Les Paul: The Godfather of Modern Music

Les Paul—what a guy! what a musician, what an inventor, and what a card. Imagine what a kick it must have been listening to a new Les Paul record on the radio and hearing recording tricks like multitracking and slap echo for the very first time. It was the equivalent of Sgt. Pepper for an earlier generation. ...

The Legend and the Legacy: The Making of the Les Paul CD Box SEt

One of 1991's most "handle-with-care" projects has to be Capitol Records' massive boxed set honoring the Grand Daddy of multitrack recording, the Godfather of the electric guitar and the Proud Papa of a stellar stream of hits that topped the pop charts between 1948 and 1958—Les Paul. ...

Les Paul: An American Original

Recording industry history buffs will find much to discuss in Mary Aice Shaughnessy's recent biography from William Morrow & Co. The People magazine staff writer pieces together long interviews with Les, as well as with many of his friends and other observers... ...

Bing, Jack and Les

Every revolution needs its leader—the provocateur—the central figure in which everything emanates from and flows through. In the case of 20th century music and mass media technology, the figure having the greatest impact was not an inventor or scientist, but rather a singer...

Les Paul: The Godfather of Modern Music

Yes, I can show it to you. It’s the original. I never changed it from the second I built it. It’s made from a coathanger — never patented it and it’s still one of the best harmonica racks around. You see, you can mount two harmonicas and change from one to the other without moving your hand, by turning them over with your chin. With two harmonicas you can play in four keys. ...

Progressions: Les Paul

As I reflect over the many years I have spent in the music and recording fields, Les Paul is one individual that never ceases to amaze me. The more I find out about him, the more I realize what he has contributed to our industry....