Topic: Les Paul
Born 9 June 1915 - Les Paul, American guitarist. Lester William Polsfuss is also inventor. He is a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar. In the 1930s, Paul worked in Chicago in radio, where he performed jazz music. Paul's first two records were released in 1936. One was credited to Rhubarb Red, Paul's hillbilly alter ego, and the other was as an accompanist for blues artist Georgia White. In the early 1950s, Paul made a number of revolutionary recordings with his wife, Mary Ford, who sang. These records were unique for their heavy use of overdubbing, which he did by recording to disc and bouncing from one disc to the other. The couple's hits included "How High the Moon", "Bye Bye Blues", "The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise", and "Vaya Con Dios". These songs featured Mary harmonizing with herself, giving the vocals a very novel sound. Paul had hosted a 15-minute radio program, The Les Paul Show, on NBC in 1950, featuring his trio (himself, Ford, and rhythm player Eddie Stapleton) and his electronics, recorded from their home and with gentle humour between Paul and Ford. In April 2008, Paul reached an agreement with Discovery World in Milwaukee for an exhibit showcasing his legacy. The exhibit will feature items from his personal collection. This month, Paul will play a concert in Milwaukee to coincide with the opening of the exhibit. Paul resides in New York City.
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Posted by Editor
at 11:51 AM CDT
Updated: Monday, 9 June 2008 11:53 AM CDT
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Updated: Monday, 9 June 2008 11:53 AM CDT
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