Guitar legend and multitracking innovator Les Paul dead at 94

Guitar legend, inventor and pop music hit-maker Les Paul has died at age 94.  Paul died of complications from pneumonia at White Plains Hospital, surrounded by friends and family, in White Plains, N.Y.  From The Times' obituary:

One of the finest pickers on the American music scene, Paul was often cited as a major influence on other guitarists, including Chet Atkins, who called him "one of my idols."

But for many other music fans, it was Paul's innovations that will ensure his legacy. They include an early electric guitar as well as new ways to create multiple tracks and echo effects for recordings, which he used in his recordings with Ford and which were later were broadly adopted by other musicians.

The music world was never the same after Paul introduced multi-tracking in the late 1940s. (Having taken time off from a lucrative career playing guitar with such singers as Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters, Paul holed himself up in a garage right here in L.A., eventually emerging with his first multitracked hit, "Lover.")  With his then-wife Mary Ford, he recorded a litany of hits like "How High the Moon," "Mockingbird Hill" and a singular version of old favorite "Tennessee Waltz." 

Beyond his innovative recording-studio creations, Paul was an extraordinarily gifted guitar player; his famous solo on Crosby's hit "It's Been a Long, Long Time" is viewed by many as one of the best guitar solos ever recorded.  When Paul's arm was injured in an automobile accident, he even made a famous request of his doctors -- when told that his arm would remain locked in the position in which it was set, he asked that it be set at an angle so he could still play the guitar.  And one of rock music's most instantly recognizable guitars -- created by the Gibson Guitar Corp. using Paul's guitar-building concepts -- even bears the name Les Paul.

What are your memories of this great musician?  Share your thoughts here.

-- Lindsay Barnett

Photo: Paul with Ford in 1951.  Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Lois Lane]

So glad we got to see Les Paul perform at the Iridium Jazz Room in NYC (Times Square) on June 2, 2009. What a great show!

[nina-nyc]

Now, Les Paul was a REAL artist, a real genius, admired and respected for all the right reasons by many generations of men and women who loved music and especially the gifts of the guitar. A true music hero and innovator, with a sound all his own. Lets celebrate his contributions for many days, weeks and years...

[george hole]

i purcahased my gibby les paul 2day, then heard he had died. truly the inovitive men that has changed music forever. rest in piece

[Sam]

Les had a great run, and a great life. He was a happy man, what a joy it was to see him, I will treasure that always.
He will live on through his records. Let us all listen to a song of his, and pass it on!

[R.A.]

R.I.P Les

[cactus]

Tape echo, multi-track recording, legendary guitar named after him. Les is truly one of the greats - RIP!

[Alexey]

I'm from Brazil e saw the great Les Paul at the Iridium Jazz in NYC on April 6, 2009. I'm very sad because we lose a genius of contemporary's music.

[Irving]

I knew this day would come and I am devastated. Thank God we had him for as long as we did and that he stayed with us mentally till the end. Sharp as a tack. If I had ever had a chance to sit down and have dinner with anyone in the world, I would still choose a 94- year- old Les Paul.

Most people outside of the music world don't realize how much we owe this guy (it goes beyond just the great guitar). If you are a fan of recorded music (any kind), pay homage to Les Paul and say a prayer for him, and then turn on your i-pod and thank him.

Les Paul is just the guy that God needs up there. Fix the world, Les, and thank you, thank you, thank you.

[xiaoni]

he used to play in a little club in NYC and a friend of mine got up and performed with him a few years ago-highlight of his life :)

[Ken]

Thank you sir,

Rest In Peace

[richard]

Like Lois Lane.. got to see him at the Irridium, on his birthday one year...helluva good time, great player (still!), superb storyteller, and generally wonderful human being

remember seeing the long line of young guitar players waiting for him to sign stuff after the show which he gleefully did... with some chat to go along with the autograph... and a smile, and push to keep playing!!!

[Dodger Tony]

His whimsical duo with Al Dimeola of "Spanish Eyes" on Dimeola's "Splendido Hotel".

[G Rob]

Hendrix Played A Les Paul!..Occasionally

Jimi Hendrix played a Les Paul guitar on occasion..Les came in contact with Jimi in New York before he was discovered. Les saw him in a club one night, and was impressed to return a few days later. He never saw Jimi in that club again..Jimi would go on to play a Les Paul guitar at several concerts, putting down the Stratocaster for a few moments..

[just joe]

Les... I can only say thank you for your vision of music. You were not only a player and inventor... you were a prophet. Every guitar sound being heard today has your DNA in it. No matter what style, tempo or volume... you are there.

Thank you

[Eugene Voce]

I don't remember the year, but Lester received a Lifetime Achievement Award at a Grammy's Ceremony one year. After many of the recipients picked up their statuettes they thanked God, their mothers, producers, bandmates ad nauseum, Les got his award and said: " I'd like to thank my landlady for bringing in the lamp."

His sense of humor was one of the distinguishing characteristics of his playing. he never seemed to take his success or life too seriously.

What a guy.

[Andy]

I don't care what anyone says: Les Paul's death is sadder than Michael Jackson's.

[clayton munsey]

Les Paul could hold an intelligent conversation with most anyone. He had the patience for perception, and offered insight and thoughtfulness on almost any topic. He was a giant in his chosen profession, entertainment. A true Phoenix like figure who revisited greatness often and maintained respect among his numerous peers. Les was an idol to many of his followers, and he forever changed sound.

Speaking with George Benson (just another fan in the audience) after a Les Paul gig, the legendary performer offered the thought, and I paraphrase 'to be great, you need to know what greatness is'. Not many people know the difficulties Les endured after the devastating automobile accident that crippled his right arm in the mid 1940's. His arm completely crushed it was set in the playing position so he could continue his career. Hit after hit came from Les in spite of what might have ended a normal persons career. Les Paul was super-human and a mench, he also understood compassion. Often he would say, 'I never sued anybody'. The father of sound on sound, and countless other guitar and sound recording innovations, he was too busy to look back.

No one had his ears, his sound checks are legendary. I personally want to thank Russ Paul, Lou Pollo, Tommy Doyle, Chris Lentz, all, who helped Les Paul bring magic to his loyal fans every Monday and on all those special occasions. Les, you will be missed.

[Carola Von Hoffmannstahl-Solomonoff]

Thanks Les. We were lucky to have you in our time and place.

[Dr. Gary]

Bye, Bye Blues!

[donnie]

I pretty much grew up with the les paul name. My grandmom raised me with a gibson solid steel body guitar and her favorite song was wildwood flower, later a friend helped me buy a les pual solid body with peavy amp and Ifell in love the sring' melted under my finger's!!!!!!

[Akaraphong]

RIP. He’s the father of electric guitar that has inspired hundreds of millions of guitarists around the globe to play variety kinds of music. Rock & Roll, Blues, Jaz, Country and Western, Rhythm and Blues. You name it, Les Paul guitars can play it all.

What he has given to the world is more than I could describe here. Let’s play tribute to him - the father and legend of electric guitar.

[Will Power]

Les Paul was a guitar Zen master. His radio shows with Mary Ford are available on the web in the electronic commons. Give them a listen. Not only was he an electronic genius, he could play rings around modern guitar heroes. He lived a long and productive life. No doubt he will be playing at the right hand of God. He took the guitar, a rhythm instrument, and made it into a modern electronic marvel which could play melody and carry the sound all by itself. He was America's own Django Rheinhardt.

[Dumras Rodjanapiches]

I am a journalist from Thailand and very lucky to see Les Paul performed at the Iridium NYC in 2000. After the show he spent time signing autograph and took photo with me and my friends. It's a great moment in my life. Les has always been an idol to me for many years. He will be missed by all the music lovers. Rest in peace, Les.

[Andrew BigBeat]

Les Paul Legend Man

[Jack from SC]

I had the privilege of seeing Les in 1989 and again last year. Although his playing skills had necessarily diminished, his patter was even better. Thus: in the 2008 show, he was joined by a fantastic Japanese sax player. His instrument had the beautiful patina that only age can bring. Les kept needling him about his "old horn" (where'd you find that thing--in a dumpster? somebody get him some Brasso"). Then, later in the show, one of his assistans actually produced some Brasso, which Les kindly proffered to the bemused sax player forthwith.

He gave me his autograph in 1989 ("keep on pickin', Jack!") Though my eyes will be moist, I will do that now ... and then give "Chester and Lester" another listen.