Les Paul 1915-2009

Les Paul, guitarist extraordinaire, inventor of the solid body electric guitar and multi-track recording died on August 12 at the age of 94 in a White Plains hospital after battling pneumonia.

His contributions to popular music as both a performer and technological innovator have influenced guitarists in the jazz, country, pop and classic rock world. His imprint on the music world cannot be overstated. Paul revolutionized the sound of the electric guitar and his breakthroughs, along with Leo Fender’s, led to the Gibson guitar being a definitive feature of rock and roll and his studio inventions and wizardry paved the way for every sound heard on any form of recorded music today. If that is not enough, he scored 40 hit records as an instrumentalist, accompanist and as a collaborator with his wife Mary Ford between 1945 and 1961.

Lester William Polfuss was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin on June 9, 1915. His mother claimed he could repeat lyrics and melodies of songs by age three. At eight, he started playing the harmonica. After a brief attempt at playing the piano, young Les moved on to guitar by 1927. In order to be heard by crowds, he started to experiment with amplification. That was a precursor to the solid body guitar he invented that shook the world of music. From 1936 to 1947, he recorded fifty “sides” on the Decca label. He also recorded with Georgia White (“Trouble in Mind”), as Rhubarb Red (“Just because”), with the Les Paul trio (“Blue Skies” and “Dark Eyes”) and with Bing Crosby (“It’s Been a Long, Long Time”) and Dick Haymes (“My Future Just Passed”).

In 1939, Paul built “The Log, a prototype of the Gibson Les Paul that guitarists know today. Leo Fender and Adolph Rickenbacker also marketed similar guitars in the ’30s. The Gibson guitar company took Paul’s suggestions into consideration in the ’50’s into their construction of the Les Paul guitar model. He signed a contract with the company and the prototype, which was a gold top, changed the face of music. The instrument gained huge popularity in the 1960’s when Eric Clapton used it. In later years, Jimmy Page (“Yardbirds” and Led Zeppelin), Peter Frampton (“Humble Pie”) and Ace Frehley used the axe on recordings and in concert arenas. The list of guitarists who have played a Les Paul and music listeners who have enjoyed its sound is endless.

In 1948, Paul’s other notable technological breakthrough came to fruition. Paul recorded eight guitar parts at varying speeds on Acetate disks in his garage. This is the first use of multi-track recording. He later changed the multi-track recording from overlaid to parallel which is how a musician can record him or herself playing a  guitar, bass and drums and synthesize the tracks, and in essence be a one –man band. He later helped invent the first 8-track recording deck along with Ross Snyder

In 1948, he was in a terrible automobile accident in Oklahoma ,which shattered his right arm and elbow. The doctors told him that he would not regain motion in the arm and would have to have it set in one position permanently. Paul chose to have it set in the playing position, which would allow him to pick the guitar- true dedication to one’s craft.

In the early 50s,with the help of the Ampex model 200 reel to reel audio tape recorder, Paul had a string of hits with his wife Mary Ford who sang. Among them were, “How High the Moon,” “Bye, Bye Blues” and “Via Con Dios.” He employed multi-tracking of his partner’s voice and brilliant guitar sound effects. Delay and echo effects that are commonly used by rock guitarists were invented By Paul. Along with his guitar breakthroughs, Paul was a wizard on the instrument, whose breakneck runs and trills on his guitar influenced every guitarist who picked up  the instrument whether they knew it or not. His style was jazzy, countrified and bluesy. He rocked and rolled before there was a Rock and Roll to rock and roll to.

He divorced Mary Ford in 1964 and went into semi-retirement.  A 1976 album with guitar great Chet Atkins (“Chester and Lester”) showed his guitar virtuosity once more on an amalgamation of Jazz and country tracks.

In July 2005, a 90th Birthday tribute concert was held for Paul at Carnegie Hall. Guitar greats like his godson Steve Miller, Peter Frampton and Jose Feliciano are just a few of the guitarists and vocalists who paid homage to the ultimate guitar virtuoso/inventor.

A major happening for many years would be going to see Paul play Fat Tuesday’s and later the Iridium for two sets on Monday nights. Like clockwork, Paul would always be there with his ensemble joking with the audience while wowing them with his guitar mastery. Every guitarist who was anybody would want to be there on Monday’s to see the legend play and jam with him on stage. Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Pat Metheny and any guitarist who is worth his salt would not miss it if they were in the New York area.

On a personal note, my wife took me to see Paul play at the Iridium in 2003 for my birthday. We lugged my heavy Les Paul Custom guitar to the club in hopes of getting it signed by the master himself. We attended the early show and an employee of the venue informed us that Paul would not sign guitars until the second show. After much consternation and pleading by us, he agreed to take the guitar backstage for Paul to sign. Instead of him bringing the guitar back, Paul did, with beer in hand, giving me the thrill of a lifetime. After exchanging pleasantries, we talked about guitars and he impressed me as a down to earth genius.

There are too many testimonials to list but here are a few:

Chickenfoot guitarist Joe Satriani: “Les Paul set a standard for musicianship and innovation that remains unsurpassed. He was the original guitar hero, and the kindest of souls.”

Slash (“Guns and Roses” and “Velvet Revolver”) Twittered:“He was one of the most stellar human beings I’ve ever known,” and referred to Paul as his “friend and mentor.”

Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Band): “Before Les guitars were only amplified. Les Paul made them truly electric.”

Every classic rock guitar great who has fans worshipping at his “shrine” owes a debt of gratitude for the man that made it all happen. There would not have been classic rock without Les Paul. Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and all the other guitar wizards genuflect to this musical pioneer. He paved the way for arena and stadium rock, studio brilliance (“Sgt Pepper” and “Are You Experienced,” to name a couple) and Eddie Van Halenesque guitar techniques. Without Paul, rock music would have taken a decidedly inferior turn.

The music world is shedding pools of tears today, but is smiling at Paul’s brilliant aura that will illuminate our musical spirit forever.

Les, I hope you are jamming in heaven with Jimi and Stevie.

Wow, what a band.