Songwriters Hall of Fame mourns the loss of Les Paul, the musician and guitar and electronics mastermind who died August 13, at the age of 94. He developed such landmark innovations as multitrack recording, tape delay and the solid-body guitar that bears his name, the Gibson Les Paul.
Born in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1915, Paul’s contributions to modern popular music, including rock ‘n’ roll, made him one of the most important figures in musical history.
In the 1930’s and 40’s, Paul with played with bandleader Fred Waring and many big band singers, including Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and the Andrews Sisters, as well as with his own Les Paul Trio. Then, in the 50’s, he created several big hits with his then-wife, Mary Ford, including “How High the Moon” and “Vaya Con Dios.”
Heavily influenced by legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, Paul’s own guitar playing was notable for his lightning-fast licks and rhythms. He, in turn, has inspired several generations of legendary guitarists, including Jimmy Page, Steve Miller and Richie Sambora, among many others.
Paul was honored in 2005 with SongHall’s Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award, and has also been honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Inventors Hall of Fame.