Les Paul dies

World renowned guitar legend Les Paul has died in White Plains, NY from complications of pneumonia at the age of 94.

Paul, most famous for inventing the solid body electric guitar and consequently the Gibson Les Paul, arguably the most recognisable guitar of all time alongside the Fender Stratocaster, made innumerable innovations and contributions to recorded music. He revolutionised the sound of music and the way it was recorded, inventing and developing engineering techniques such as echo delay, overdubbing, close miking and multi-track recording.

He was also a guitarist himself and recording countless albums over his long life, the most noteable being the 1950s jazz albums with his wife Mary Ford, and the 1976 Grammy Award-winning instrumental album Chester And Lester with Chet Atkins.

He was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH in 1988 and in the mid-nineties he started playing weekly at the New York jazz club Fat Tuesdays. Right up until his death, he was still playing every week at the Iridium Jazz Club, also in New York.

Gilby Clarke: “Sad day today, the great Les Paul died. He was 94 years young and invented the Les Paul guitar, the greatest guitar ever made.”

Alex Skolnick: “Les Paul was very rare in the music biz: creative, successful and famous but a great guy right up ’til the end. Thanks for everything Les.”

Slash: “My friend and mentor Les Paul died today at 94. He was one of the most stellar human beings I’ve ever known, rest in peace Les.”

Billy Morrison: “Rest In Peace, Les Paul. Your artistry and design changed my life, millions of others, and the sound of music as we know it today.”

Sebastian Bach: “RIP Les Paul. Got to meet you and see you jam with Slash and Mike Monroe. No one could have ever rocked without Les Paul, or a Les Paul.”

Zakk Wylde: “My condolences to the Les Paul family – great man, great musician. Thank you for years of music and of course the Les Paul guitar”

Official Les Paul Website