| Birth: | Jun. 9, 1915
Waukesha
Waukesha County
Wisconsin, USA | | Death: | Aug. 12, 2009
White Plains
Westchester County
New York, USA | 
Popular Music Pioneer. Born Lester William Polsfuss, he was known as the "Wizard of Waukesha" and the father of the electric guitar. Paul's career spanned from the jazz age through the new millennium. One of the world's best-known electric guitars, the Gibson Les Paul, is named after him. Paul was a star of television and radio in the early 1950s with his wife, Mary Ford, with hits such as "Tennessee Waltz," "How High the Moon" and "Vaya Con Dios." These hits employed a number of new recording techniques that were very influential to all musicians. Paul and Ford's television show ran from 1953 to 1960. The couple divorced in 1964. In addition to his artistic prowess, Paul was an inventor who harbored an interest in electronics and guitar amplification, ultimately culminating with the development of (and lending his name to) the solid body electric guitar. The Les Paul guitar was introduced by the Gibson Guitar company in 1952, and is the rock musician's definitive guitar. Paul's overdubbing and multitrack recording innovations are as important as his invention of the solid-body electric guitar. A key pioneer in electric guitar sounds, he made technological innovations in the development of multitrack recording, guitar effects and the mechanics of sound in general. With multitrack recording, overdubbing and electronic reverb, among other inventions, the sound of popular music was forever changed and the recording process was revolutionized. Paul died of pneumonia at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York. (bio by: William Seitz)
Family links:
Parents:
George William Polsfuss (1881 - 1949)
Evelyn Stutz Polsfuss (1888 - 1989)
Spouse:
Mary Ford (1924 - 1977)
Search Amazon for Les Paul | | | Burial:
Prairie Home Cemetery
Waukesha
Waukesha County
Wisconsin, USA |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Originally Created by: Azarias
Record added: Aug 13, 2009
Find A Grave Memorial# 40622216 |
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