Paul, Les, 1915–2009, American
guitarist and inventor, b. Waukesha, Wis., as Lester William Polsfuss (later
Polfuss). He began playing country music at 14, later switched to jazz, and
started his own trio in 1936. Considered one of the finest jazz guitarists,
he remains famous for his amazing versatility. Dissatisfied with the sound
of available instruments, Paul invented (1941) a solid-body electric guitar;
a version developed and marketed (1952) under his name by Gibson was
important in the development of rock music. Paul also created techniques in
his home studio that allowed him to overdub numerous tracks, producing the
distinctive sound of Les Paul and Mary Ford (his wife) in such 1950s hits as
“Vaya Con Dios” and “How High the Moon.” The
multitrack recording originated by Paul has since been widely used to make
popular recordings. He also invented the eight-track tape recorder, which
initiated the modern recording era, and made important innovations in reverb
and other areas of studio methodology. Paul was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame in 1988.
See M. Cochran, Les Paul: In His Own Words (2008); R. Lawrence, The Early Years of the Les Paul Legacy: 1915–1963 and The Modern Years of the Les Paul Legacy: 1968–2008 (both: 2008); I. S. Port, The Birth of the Loud (2019).
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Music: Popular and Jazz: Biographies
