Les Paul, the guitarist and inventor who developed the solid-body electric guitar that made rock 'n' roll possible, died on Thursday in New York. He was 94. According to a tribute posted by Gibson Guitar, Paul died of complications from pneumonia at White Plains Hospital. His family and friends were by his side.
Paul's innovations include many of the ingredients of modern sound recording, including overdubbing, tape delay and multitrack recording techniques.
Many will say his crowning achievement was the very electric guitar that bears his name. The Les Paul, by Gibson, remains one of the most beloved and played models on the market, more than 50 years after its debut.
As a recording artist, Paul achieved the bulk of his chart success in the early 1950s alongside his wife, singer and guitarist Mary Ford. The husband-and-wife team scored more than a dozen top-ten hits, including 'Tenessee Waltz' and 'I'm Sitting On Top of the World.'
Execs at Gibson have already weighed in on the company's Web site.
"The world has lost a truly innovative and exceptional human being today. I cannot imagine life without Les Paul ... His musical charm was extraordinary and his techniques unmatched anywhere in the world." -- Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar.
"As the 'Father of the Electric Guitar', he was not only one of the world's greatest innovators but a legend who created, inspired and contributed to the success of musicians around the world." -- Dave Berryman, President of Gibson Guitar.
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