MUMBAi: Les Paul, conidered the father of the modern guitar and the inventor of the sturdy guitars that we use now, is dead. He was 94.
Paul first became interested in music at the age of eight, when he began playing the harmonica. After an attempt at learning to play the banjo, he began to play the guitar. By 13, Paul was performing semi-professionally as a country-music guitarist. At the age of 17, Paul played with Rube Tronson’s Texas Cowboys, and soon after he dropped out of high school to join Wolverton’s Radio Band in St. Louis, Missouri on KMOX.
He was honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with its American Music Master award in 2008, at which time he was still performing regularly at a New York City jazz club. In 2005 he released an album (Les Paul & Friends) on which he collaborated with a host of artists who have been influenced by him.
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In January 1948, Paul was injured in a near-fatal automobile accident in Oklahoma, which shattered his right arm and elbow. Doctors told Paul that there was no way for them to rebuild his elbow in a way that would let him regain movement, and that his arm would remain permanently in whatever position they placed it in. Paul then instructed the surgeons to set his arm at an angle that would allow him to cradle and pick the guitar. It took him a year and a half to recover.
His death is being mourned by his fans across the world. For others he may be just an inventor and guitarist, but for the guitarist community he was its soul and nurturer. In addition to making guitars, he also pioneered a style of playing unique to the electric guitar, and pioneered the concept of multi-track recording. His innovative talents extended into his unique playing style, including licks, trills, chording sequences, fretting techniques and timing which set him apart from his contemporaries and inspired most of the guitarists of the present day.
