Les Paul, often called “the Inventor of the Electric Guitar,” died yesterday at the age of 94. While quite a few people might be given credit for the title, Paul was one of the earliest to create and innovate the sounds that influenced the past 80 years of jazz and rock. He made a guitar out of a railroad track, did multi-track recording on acetate discs, and used car parts to assemble songs. Any of us who take Audacity for granted should probably hang our heads in shame.
Instead of trying to say what others have said about him (and everyone from jazz musicians to Brian “Head” Welch has been heaping praise) or giving a good biography which can be found at either of those links, I found a few songs to show a little of what he’s done.
The first one is a post-war ballad, one I remember hearing from the record collection that my grandfather –a WWII vet himself — kept around. It’s called, “It’s Been a Long, Long Time.”
Fast forward 63 years (and one rock and roll revolution later). Here’s Les Paul playing on his 93rd birthday.
He was still doing weekly gigs in his 90s. That’s dedication.
