LES PAUL 1915-2009

(This remembrance appeared in the Wall Street Journal)

The Father of Modern Guitar Spanned and Shaped Genres
By JIM FUSILLI
Les Paul, who died Thursday at age 94 from complications of pneumonia at a hospital in White Plains, N.Y., was one of the most influential figures in the history of popular music. Guitarist, engineer, inventor, entertainer and hit-maker, Mr. Paul's influence extends far beyond his fluid, distinctive guitar style and the use of his signature Gibson Les Paul electric guitar by the likes of Duane Allman, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Bob Marley, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page, Slash and others. Mr. Paul pioneered the use of multitrack recording, essentially inventing the precursor to today's recording studio. His style of playing with special sound-shifting effects and overdubbing established a school of guitar playing that shaped rock and jazz. In 2007, Weekend Journal's John Jurgensen spoke with Les Paul about how the legendary guitarist played well into his 90's. Originally recorded in New York City, September 2007.With his then-wife Mary Ford, Mr. Paul scored several No. 1 hits in the early 1950s in which he played guitar and she sang, overdubbing her voice several times to create distinctive harmonies. In his 1947 hit, "Lover (When You're Near Me)," Mr. Paul overdubbed eight guitar parts. The Les Paul-Mary Ford version of "How High the Moon" was a smash hit in 1951, spending nine weeks in the top slot on the Billboard charts. "When you go back and listen to 'How High the Moon,' it's so different than anything else from that time," said Bruce Swedien, a Grammy-winning engineer who first met Mr. Paul in the late 1950s. "The only natural sound on that song is Mary's voice. His concept was to take music, bust it down to its elements and build it back up again."
Born June 9, 1915, in Waukesha, Wis., as Lester William Polfuss, Mr. Paul dropped out of high school to become a professional guitarist. He played country music, but soon gravitated toward his great love, jazz. In the 1930s and 1940s, he played with Fred Waring's orchestra, fronted jazz trios -- often playing a version of a solid-body electric guitar he invented known as the Log -- and supported the Andrew Sisters and Bing Crosby, who endorsed Mr. Paul's recording experiments. In 1948, Mr. Paul had an automobile accident that shattered his right elbow, almost ending his career. A right-handed player, he had his arm reset at almost a right angle, a position that permitted him to pluck the guitar strings. He hosted a radio program in which he demonstrated his recording inventions, playing with Ms. Ford and guitarist Eddie Stapleton. Later, he and Ms. Ford hosted a TV program that ran from 1953 to 1960. Mr. Paul withdrew from performing in the late 1960s, around the time when his Gibson Les Paul guitar seemed a mandatory component of rock music and a badge of honor for guitarists. "When I was young, I'd meet guys who had them," recalled Ace Frehley of Kiss. "I couldn't afford it. I got my first Les Paul when Kiss got its first record contract. It was such a special instrument."
Mr. Paul continued to record -- including a 1976 album with Chet Atkins titled "Chester and Lester" -- and in the late 1980s, he returned to the stage. From 1996 until earlier this year, he played a regular Monday set at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City. According to owner Ron Sturm, such musicians as Mr. McCartney, Keith Richards, Mr. Beck and Al DiMeola dropped in to play with Mr. Paul. "To them, it was a huge thrill," Mr. Sturm said. "People will tell you how technically brilliant he was, but he was much more than that. He was such a cool human being." In 2005, he recorded an album with many guitarists he influenced. "Les Paul & Friends: American Made World Played" also showcased his recording innovations. That same year, many guitarists, including his godson Steve Miller, paid tribute to him at an event at Carnegie Hall. According to Gibson, Mr. Paul is the only person who was named to the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame, which summarizes both the how diverse and interconnected his achievements were. "He was such a sweet, humble man," said Mr. Frehley. "I don't think he understood how big an impact he had on music. He always had his chops down. He never lost his talent or his sense of humor." Mr. Swedien added, "He was an absolute artist when it comes to performing. Ninety-four years old. Boy, that's a lot of picking."