The Associated Press reports that the pioneering guitarist and inventor Les Paul died today in White Plains, New York of complications from pneumonia. He was 94. Though he accomplished many remarkable things during his long lifetime, Paul's biggest legacy remains his creation of the Les Paul model guitar. Born Lester William Polsfuss in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Paul got his start in the 1930s as a Chicago jazz and country guitarist. He was an early adopter of electric guitar, and pretty soon he began experimenting with his own models, becoming one of the pioneers in the invention of the solid body guitar. In the 40s, he played on records from stars like Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. Paul was also an innovator in the field of multi-track recording. On the 1947 track "Lover (When You're Near Me)", he played the song by himself on eight multi-tracked guitar parts, something revolutionary at the time. His 1950s recordings with his wife Mary Ford laid the groundwork for modern studio recording.
89.3 has been playing tribute songs that have Les Paul's in them all day. Really good stuff. That man was legend.
