Les Paul - VOA Story
Les Paul may have had more influence upon the sound of modern rock and roll music than any other person in history. It was he who released the solid-body electric guitar that bears his name in 1952. It was built and marketed by Gibson, and, along with constant refinements and innovations from Les Paul himself, it has gone on to become one of the most widely used and respected electric guitars in history. Such noteworthy artists as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page are all ociated with the Gibson Les Paul, but this is not Les Paul’s sole contribution to the world of music.
Les Paul was born Lester William Polfus in 1916 in Waukesha, Wisconsin. His lifelong interest in electronic innovation began as far back as the age of nine when he built his first crystal radio. He began playing guitar at the same age and was playing semi-professionally by the age of 13. The production of a solid-body electric guitar had been a long time dream of Paul’s. He began waorking in early 1941 on his design by putting guitar strings on railroad ties in order to test his ideas. He approached Gibson for the first time in the ’40’s with his ideas. He was met with reluctance because Gibson did not often align with artists. They only agreed to market the product in 1952 when the idea became a viable option commercially. Les Paul was approached to help with the design and production because of his familiarity with the characteristics of solid-body electric guitars and his popularity as a musician. The result was a beautifully streamlined and attractive version of the plank of wood that Paul had worked with.
By that time, Les Paul was already known as an accomplished country and jazz musician. He recorded two number one hits combining his talents with the vocals of his wife Mary Ford in 1951 and had also become known as the father of multi-track recording due to 1948’s “Brazil”, a dazzling arrangement of six different guitar tracks. Sadly, Les Paul’s musical career almost came to a startling halt when his right arm and elbow was shattered in a near fatal car collision. But being the dedicated musician that he was, Paul insisted that his arm be set in such a way that he could still cradle and pick a guitar.
In addition to his work on the solid-body electric guitar, Les Paul also marketed the first eight-track tape recorder in 1952 with the aid of Ampeg and has contributed greatly to the field of recording. He is credited with the pioneering uses of close miking, echo delay, and overdubbing. Paul has remained active throughout the decades, releasing a Grammy winning collection of instrumental collaborations in 1977 and playing in clubs throughout New York and elsewhere, but he will always be known for his help on releasing the guitar that went on to revolutionize modern music. The Gibson les paul has not changed much since its first release in 1952. Besides an updated bridge and humbucking pickups, the standard Les Paul is still the same guitar that both Gibson and Paul had envisioned nearly fifty years before. Les Paul currently resides in Mahwah, NJ and continues his musical innovation and work in his basement workshop. He is a member of the rock and roll Hall of Fame.
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December 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
mitico la storia …
mitico la storia della chitarra americana elettrica che geniiiiiooo…..favoooooolloooosssssoooooo…….les paullllll……
December 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
Les Paul is the …
Les Paul is the best guitar and player in the world.
December 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
nice clip
nice clip
December 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
great man
great man
December 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
At 3:23 the …
At 3:23 the Godfather of electric guitar! Koool.
December 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
Whatever you think …
Whatever you think of him, you gotta honor his achievement with the electric guitar, Leo Fender and Les Paul are great and Les still is he’s a living legend.
December 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
Anytime you are in …
Anytime you are in NYC on a Monday night, head over to the Iridium Jazz Club. Les plays two sets. One at 8PM and another at 10. After the 10 PM he hangs around to talk, sign autographs, have photos taken, etc. Simply said, hes one of the nicest guys you can ever hope to meet. I go to hear Les play at least once a year when I’m in “da Big Apple.” My last trip in was a few weeks back on May 12th. Hearing him in person is an experience you won’t believe until you have been there yourself.
December 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
I play guitar, when …
I play guitar, when I was a teen in the 70’s I wanted a Les Paul, guitar then one cost about $800 maybe with case then. I settled for a 61 reissue Gibson SG, and I’m happy with it. Can’t play well any more do to arthritis. Nevertheless hope you make it passed a 100 Les! Your one of the Greats
December 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
if would once get …
if would once get the uppertunety to meat him, than i’m going to scream like a highschool girl. he’s my hero
December 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
Les’s bass player …
Les’s bass player is one the prettiest girls I’ve ever seen.. and of course, she’s great on the bass. But really, up close..forget it…you’l hock the wife and kids. What a dreamboat. Well, that’s New York. They should name a bass after Her.
December 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
There’s a newish …
There’s a newish DVD on Les by american masters…fabulous…and the ebst extras ever on a DVD…full performances with Mary during his listerine hour show…and lemme tell ya, you won’t believe what you see.
December 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
hes a legend!
hes a legend!
December 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
what do you expect? …
what do you expect? he’s like 94 years old!… he’s the greatest man alive. period.
December 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
I know, but he’s …
I know, but he’s not making music like he used to be.
December 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
He’s not dead yet.
He’s not dead yet.
December 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
Les Paul was a …
Les Paul was a fricken genius.