Guitarist and inventor Les Paul passed away today at a hospital in White Plains, N.Y., after a bout of severe pneumonia. Paul’s name is synonymous with one of the most well-known and beloved models of electric guitar in the world, and he was a pioneer in the art of multi-track recording; the official site of Gibson Guitars has an exhaustive look at the Wisconsin native and his legacy—from his earliest experiments with studio wizardry to his collaborations with his eventual wife Mary Ford to his residency at the New York jazz club Iridium—and it’s well worth reading, if only to realize just how much of current popular music would look very different without Paul’s input and innovation. A few clips from his career after the jump.


Les Paul, “Lover”



Les Paul & Mary Ford, “World Is Waiting For The Sunrise” (from The Les Paul & Mary Ford Show)



Les Paul & Mary Ford, “How High The Moon” (with a little discussion of multi-track recording beforehand)



“Tennessee Waltz” (live at the Iridium, July 2008)



Paul was 94.


The World Has Lost a Remarkable Innovator and Musician: Les Paul Passes Away at 94 [Gibson]
Les Paul [Salon]

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