Les Paul, who invented the solid-body electric guitar later wielded by a legion of rock 'n' roll greats, died Thursday of complications from pneumonia. He was 94.
According to Gibson Guitar, Paul died at White Plains Hospital. His family and friends were by his side. As an inventor, Paul also helped bring about the rise of rock 'n' roll with multitrack recording, which enables artists to record different instruments at different times, sing harmony with themselves, and then carefully balance the tracks in the finished recording. The use of electric guitar gained popularity in the mid-to-late 1940s, and then exploded with the advent of rock in the mid-'50s.
MY THOUGHTS: I feel ashamed to not have known this man before he passed away. I personally love the sound of the electric guitar--an instrument of popular choice whenever I feel like inventing a new melody for most beat concepts I create. However, not only is he the father of one of my favorite style of sounds, he was also a major influence on the technology that I have used since my birth into the music industry. Without the ability to multitrack, most, if not all, of my sound recordings-to-date could not exist. Thus, my condolences go out to Paul and his family who had the opportunity to be with him during his last moments. Rest in peace..though your legacy shall live on in the hearts of many, including my own.
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