View source for Guitarist Les Paul dies at 94

{{date|August 14, 2009}}
{{obituaries}}
[[File:Les Paul.jpg|thumb|left|Les Paul in 2004 {{image credit|1=didi46}}]]
[[w:Les Paul|Les Paul]], the American jazz guitarist whose eponymous [[w:Gibson Les Paul|electric guitar]] remains one of the most popular and influential designs of musical instrument in modern history, has died at the age of 94 of complications from [[w:pneumonia|pneumonia]].

Born Lester William Polfuss in 1915 in [[w:Waukesha|Waukesha]], [[Wisconsin]], [[United States]], Les Paul was establishing himself as a jazz musician in Chicago when in 1939 he built "The Log", reputed to be the first solid-body "Spanish-style" electric guitar ever made. Discussions with [[w:Gibson Guitars|Gibson Guitars]] led to the development of the Gibson Les Paul guitar, which with its unprecedented tonal properties (caused in part by its unprecedented weight) quickly established itself among players of both the emerging [[w:rock & roll|rock & roll]] style of music and the developing [[w:electric blues|electric blues]].
[[File:Daves58historic.jpg|thumb|left|A 2005 reissue of the 1958 Gibson Les Paul {{image credit|1=[[w:User:Zeppelin4life|Zeppelin4life]]}}]]
Paul was also a pioneer of recording techniques. Paul's experiments with [[w:multi-tracking|multi-tracking]] in the 1940s led to a string of chart successes with songs like "[[w:How High The Moon|How High The Moon]]", in which Paul's guitar work and then-wife [[w:Mary Ford|Mary Ford]]'s vocals appeared a novel many-layered setting, Paul playing up to eight guitar parts and Ford harmonizing with herself.

Although Paul entered semi-retirement in his 50s, he remained active and performing almost until his death; his last album was released in 2006. Les Paul received a number of accolades throughout his career: he was the recipient of numerous [[w:Grammy award|Grammy awards]], an inductee into the [[w:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame|Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]], and the namesake of the [[w:Mix Foundation|Mix Foundation]]'s [[w:TEC_Awards#Les_Paul_Award|Les Paul Award]] for "individuals or institutions that have set the highest standards of excellence in the creative application of audio technology." He was also the subject of two biographical films.

While Les Paul had no children, he is survived by a godson, the guitarist [[w:Steve Miller (musician)|Steve Miller]].

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== Sources ==
{{wikipedia|Les Paul}}
*{{source|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/13/AR2009081301768.html?hpid=moreheadlines
|title='Wizard' Invented Guitars That Electrified Popular Music
|author=Adam Bernstein
|pub=The Washington Post
|date=August 13, 2009}} 
*{{source|url=http://www.dbtechno.com/entertainment/2009/08/13/guitar-maker-les-paul-dead-at-94/|title=Guitar Maker Les Paul Dead at 94|author=|pub=dbtechno|date=August 13, 2009}}
*{{source|url=http://www.indystar.com/article/20090813/LOCAL/90813041/Guitar+legend+Les+Paul+dies+at+age+94|title=Guitar legend Les Paul dies at age 94|author=Luke Sheridan, Associated Press|pub=Indianapolis Star|date=August 13, 2009}}
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[[Category:Obituaries]]
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Culture and entertainment]]
[[Category:Jazz]]
[[Category:Blues music]]
[[pl:Zmarł Les Paul]]
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