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This is incredibly sad news, I have a Yamaha Les Paul built in the 70s and it is a great guitar. The man was a genius.
Guitarist and instrument innovator Les Paul has died at the age of 94.
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The US musician and inventor died at White Plains hospital in New York as a result of complications from pneumonia, according to the Gibson Guitar company, and family and friends were at his bedside.
As a guitar pioneer, Paul spent his life chasing 'the perfect sound', in the process influencing jazz and rock music by developing his 'solid body' electric guitar, which began life when he stuffed his acoustic with socks and shorts.
Born in Wisconsin in 1915, Paul's first musical forays were with the harmonica and banjo before he turned to guitar, experimenting with electric models after becoming dissatisfied with the acoustic guitars of the 1940s.
"I went into a nightclub and played it. Of course, everybody thought I was a nut," he recalled on early outings with the electric model.
In 1952, Gibson Guitars began to produce the Les Paul guitar, a model which established itself in rock and jazz history, ensuring that Les Paul's name will continue long after his death.
The Who's Pete Townshend, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and jazz guitarist Al Di Meola are among the guitar greats who use it as their model of choice.
With his wife Mary Ford on vocals, Paul also had a successful career as a musician, gaining 11 number ones in the US, including versions of How High The Moon, Nola and Lover.
In February 2006, while in hospital, he learned that he had won two Grammys for Les Paul & Friends: American Made, World Played, an album he released after his 90th birthday.
Guitarist and instrument innovator Les Paul has died at the age of 94.
Related photos / videos
More photos: Celebrity
Related content
- Guitar heroes in tune for "Loud" music documentary
- Video: Legendary guitarist Les Paul dies aged 94
- Video: Legendary guitarist Les Paul dies aged 94
- Related Hot Topic: Celebrity
Have your say: Celebrity
The US musician and inventor died at White Plains hospital in New York as a result of complications from pneumonia, according to the Gibson Guitar company, and family and friends were at his bedside.
As a guitar pioneer, Paul spent his life chasing 'the perfect sound', in the process influencing jazz and rock music by developing his 'solid body' electric guitar, which began life when he stuffed his acoustic with socks and shorts.
Born in Wisconsin in 1915, Paul's first musical forays were with the harmonica and banjo before he turned to guitar, experimenting with electric models after becoming dissatisfied with the acoustic guitars of the 1940s.
"I went into a nightclub and played it. Of course, everybody thought I was a nut," he recalled on early outings with the electric model.
In 1952, Gibson Guitars began to produce the Les Paul guitar, a model which established itself in rock and jazz history, ensuring that Les Paul's name will continue long after his death.
The Who's Pete Townshend, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and jazz guitarist Al Di Meola are among the guitar greats who use it as their model of choice.
With his wife Mary Ford on vocals, Paul also had a successful career as a musician, gaining 11 number ones in the US, including versions of How High The Moon, Nola and Lover.
In February 2006, while in hospital, he learned that he had won two Grammys for Les Paul & Friends: American Made, World Played, an album he released after his 90th birthday.
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