Posted on 06/09/2008 9:35:39 AM PDT by yankeedame
Name at birth: Lester William Polsfuss
Les Paul is a musician and inventor credited with inventing the solid-body electric guitar in 1941. A harmonica and guitar player from an early age, in his late teens he moved to Chicago, where he became a minor star on the country music circuit. By the late 1930s he was in New York as a regular player on Fred Waring's radio show. During World War II he served with the Armed Forces Radio Services, where he played behind stars including Bing Crosby. After the war he returned to New York for a time, then headed to Los Angeles where he ended up working again with Crosby. Paul was tinkering with electronics by then, and in the early 1940s he electronically amplified guitar strings and modified a tape recorder to create "sound on sound" -- what is now called overdubbing.
He married singer Mary Ford (b. Colleen Summer, 1928-1977) and together they had hit records during the 1950s, including "Mockin' Bird Hill" and "Vaya Con Dios." They also hosted a successful TV show, The Les Paul and Mary Ford at Home Show (1953-60). In the early 1960s Paul retired from performing (he and Mary divorced in 1961) but kept puttering around with electronics and in 1973 was awarded his third patent for an improved electrical pick-up. He returned to performing in the late '70s, and he and Chet Atkins released a Grammy-winning record, Chester & Lester (1978). Les Paul (& Chet Atkins) music video
In 2006, at the age of 90, Paul won Grammys for the pop instrumental "Caravan" and the rock instrumental "69 Freedom Special," both from the album Les Paul & Friends: American Made World Played.
In 2001 Les Paul was given a Grammy for technical achievements... He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988... The first "electric guitar" Paul made was a 4" x 4" chunk of pine with strings and a microphone pick-up attached; he called it "The Log."
Love it!!! Thanks.. Nothing classier than a Les Paul guitar.
Bump,,,,, as I try to teach myself to play guitar.
Saw Les Paul in the front row of a small club in New York in the 80’s. The name of the club escapes me...but it was small enough that Mr. Paul asked me to stand up and adjust the stage lighting for him.
Thoroughly enjoyed the show.
He still plays two sets every Monday at the Iridium jazz club in New York. I’ve heard him in radio interviews at 4 AM after the sets and he’s just getting ready to party.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LES PAUL!!!
Although I’ve always preferred Strats, Les Paul has just one of those utterly amazing life stories, fully equivalent to a Sergei Brin (1 of 2 Google founders) of his era.
The discussion as to “who invented the electric guitar” is a long and interesting one, and there are about 10 guys in the pile. LP is definitely one of them.
But his innovations in multi-track recording, playing, and of course the lasting legacy of the Les Paul guitars; much like Fenders, still widely, widely used 55 years later; is nothing short of remarkable.
One of the all-time greats! Happy Birthday, Les!
Just came to me: Saw Les Paul Trio at Fat Tuesday’s
I love Les Paul and he has a great band. I have seen him at the Iridium club twice so far and hope to go again soon. Both times he did a meet & greet afterwards, signed autographs, posed for pictures. Great guy! Every Tuesday you can see a collage of pictures from the previous night’s shows at
http://www.redhotred.com/photo_main.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UvXr2e9DwU
Genius at work
Happy Birthday Les (born Lester William Polsfuss on June 9, 1915) Paul!!
Keep on swinging, my man!!
But hey, far be it from me to pee on the Birthday boys' party!
Hey - it’s my birthday today too !
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