I still remember the day when my dad gave me the poster of the iconic Jimmy Page holding aloft his guitar like a Greek God. The mere sight of him and the beautiful guitar became etched in my mind. With the passage of time I slowly started reading and dreamed of having that same beautiful guitar one day. And that guitar was the LES PAUL. Named after the legendary Les Paul.
His death at the age of 94 years on August 13th 1995 brought an end to the era started by this great legend. Few musicians can boast of a musical career spanning eight decades and even fewer can boast of having two huge accomplishments . Les invented both the electric guitar and multi track recordings. These huge inventions changed the sound and production of rock music .This article is dedicated to the Late Great “**Lester William Polsfuss”**, known to us Les**Paul.** A name etched into the mind of every true musician who lives and breathes music.
**Early Years**
Paul was born on June 9, 1915. At the early age of eight Paul became interested in music, when he started playing the harmonica. At the age of 13, Paul was performing semi-professionally as a country-music guitarist. By the age of 17, Paul had started playing with Rube Tronson’s Texas Cowboys. Soon after he dropped out of high school and went onto join Wolverton’s Radio Band in St. Louis, Missouri on KMOX.
In the 1930s, Paul worked in Chicago in radio, where he performed jazz music. The year 1936 saw the release of Paul’s first two records. One record was credited to "Rhubarb Red", Paul’s hillbilly alter ego, and the other was as an accompanist for blues artist Georgia White. Paul greatly admired Django Reinhardt and his influence could be seen in the music of Paul
His musical career almost ended in January 1948. Paul was fatally injured in 1948 when he met with an automobile accident in Oklahoma. This nearly left him with a shattered right arm and elbow. Paul was told by the doctors that there was no way they can rebuild his elbow in a way that would let him regain movement, and his arm would remain permanently in whatever position they placed it in. But such was the genius and commitment of Paul that he instructed the surgeons to set his arm at an angle that would allow him to cradle and pick the guitar. He just could not be separated from guitar.
**Revolution in Guitar Making**
In the mid 1930’s Paul was greatly dissatisfied with the acoustic guitars that were being manufactured and sold during that era. He began experimenting at home with designs for an electric model on his own. And then he invented the famous “The Log, " which was nothing more than a length of common 4" x 4" lumber and attached with it were a bridge, guitar neck, and pickup.
In 1941, Paul built his first solid-body electric guitar, and he continued to make refinements to his prototype throughout the decade. It’s safe to say that rock and roll as we know it would not exist without his invention.
But the guitar that bears his name and also is his crowning glory – the Gibson Les Paul. This is the guitar which every guitarist knows and wants have. This masterpiece grew out of his desire, as a musician and inventor, to create a stringed instrument that could make electronic sound without distorting. This came up after almost a decade of work, was a solid bodied instrument GIBSON LES PAUL. This guitar was the breakthrough and laid down the foundation of Rock and Roll. This solid boy with Gold Top electric Guitar went on to become one of the most popular of all the models of guitar that ever existed. This was built and marketed by Gibson with the latest model coming out in 2008.
The iconic Gibson Les Paul has been associated with many legend’s like Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Mike Bloomfield, Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, Pete Townshed just to name a few . Such was the greatness of Paul that once Jimi Hendrix consulted him about the construction of the Electric Lady Studios. And Led Zeppelin’s Page once wrote of Paul, “He’s the man who started everything. He’s just a genius.” During a concert with Paul, Eddie Van Halen said “Without the things you’ve done, I wouldn’t be able to do half the things I do.”
Les Paul is the only individual who has been inducted in Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame. At the age of 90, in 2005 he released “Les Paul & Friends: American Made World Played “This album featured guest spots from several of his most illustrious rock and roll disciples and won him a pair of Grammys.
In the end the words Gregg Todt summarizes everything “What can you say about a man who revolutionized the way we make music? A man who changed the way it sounded? A man who dedicated his life to perfecting his art? Two words: Thank you.”
And I know Paul up there you are playing for angels and evil’s alike.
Note: - With excerpts from “The Gibson Les Paul Book”.