Today on The Bob Edwards Show is a fascinating interview with Les Paul - you can listen to the show with a free three-day sample-subscription to XM Satellite Radio’s online service at listen.xmradio.com, and you’ll be able to hear the weekend version of this interview (edited for time) at the bobedwards.info website in the Bob Edwards Weekend forum. Now everyone who’s met Mr. Paul has a story to tell about it…this is mine.

A few years ago, Mr. Paul was a guest of the Friends of Old-Time Radio Convention at one of the more…er…eclectic closing performances. He spoke for a bit, answered some pre-set questions, and accepted our applause. After the evening’s performances finally ended, I sought him out…I didn’t take anything for him to sign, I just wanted to thank him for taking the time out of his schedule to visit with us, and frankly I wanted to meet the guy, someone I’d appreciated for pretty much my entire lifetime, and particularly since I learned to play guitar after losing a finger on my left hand. I found him, and did so…while shaking his hand across a table, I held it for just a moment longer than customary (men know what I’m talking about), looked him in the eye and said, “I wonder if a lick will rub off?”

He got a huge grin on his face, grabbed my hand between both of his (they seemed so large to create such a delicate sound), rubbed it between them so I could feel friction heat, and with a soft laugh said, “I sure hope so!”