Comments (0)Les Paul
String Master
August 14, 2009
Some people think that Les Paul is just the brand name of a fancy guitar. But it’s actually the name of the brilliant jazz guitarist and inventor who revolutionized the instrument.
Born Lester William Polfuss in Waukesha, Wis., to Jewish-Prussian parents, George and Evelyn Polsfuss, Les Paul died Aug. 13 at age 94 due to complications from pneumonia. He pioneered the development of the solid-body electric guitar, and his countless innovations include overdubbing, delay effects and multi-track recording.
Like many virtuosos of the guitar, Paul’s first instrument was the humble tin sandwich, the harmonica. By 13, he was performing semi-professionally as a country guitarist.
Besides his innovations with the guitar, Paul is probably best known for his dozens of hit songs (“Vaya Con Dios,” “How High The Moon,” “The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise”) in the ‘50s with his wife, singer guitarist Mary Ford, who died in 1977.