Les Paul was an American jazz guitarist, country guitarist, songwriter, and inventor, known for pioneering the solid-body electric guitar.
At age eight, Les Paul began his musical journey by playing the harmonica and later invented a neck-worn harmonica holder that is still in production today.
Les Paul was a key figure in the development of the solid-body electric guitar, with his prototype inspiring the iconic Gibson Les Paul model.
Biography
Early Life
Lester William Polsfuss, known as Les Paul, was born on June 9, 1915, in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He grew up in a musical family, with both parents of German ancestry. His mother, related to the founders of Milwaukee's Valentin Blatz Brewing Company, encouraged his early musical pursuits. At just eight years old, Paul began playing the harmonica, later transitioning to piano, banjo, and guitar. He invented a neck-worn harmonica holder, which is still manufactured today. By age thirteen, he was performing semi-professionally, experimenting with electric amplification and modifying instruments to enhance sound.
Career
Les Paul's career took off in the 1930s when he moved to Chicago, where he played country music on the radio and learned jazz from local greats. He adopted the stage name Les Paul and became known for his innovative guitar techniques. His style was influenced by Django Reinhardt, and he was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar, with his prototype, the Log, inspiring the famous Gibson Les Paul model. In the 1950s, he and his wife, singer Mary Ford, recorded numerous hits, selling millions of records and solidifying his place in music history.
Personal Life and Legacy
Les Paul married Virginia Webb in 1937, with whom he had two children, but they divorced in 1949. He later married Mary Ford, and they had three children together. After their divorce in 1964, Paul continued to influence the music world, establishing the Les Paul Foundation in 1995 to support music education and innovation. He received numerous accolades, including the National Medal of Arts and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Les Paul passed away on August 12, 2009, leaving behind a legacy as a groundbreaking musician and inventor, remembered for his contributions to jazz and popular music.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Icon2015
- 1.Guitar Boogie
- 2.Brazil
- 3.Caravan
- 4.How High The Moon
- 5.The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise
- 6.Lover (When You're Near Me)
- 7.Tiger Rag
- 8.Blue Skies
- 9.Begin The Beguine
- 10.Vaya Con Dios
- 11.I'm Sitting On Top Of The World
Guitar Monsters2013
- 1.Limehouse Blues2:50
- 2.I Want to Be Happy3:42
- 3.Over the Rainbow2:41
- 4.Meditation2:34
- 5.Lazy River3:00
- 6.I'm Your Greatest Fan3:49
- 7.It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)2:59
- 8.I Surrender Dear4:04
- 9.Brazil2:41
- 10.Give My Love to Nell2:52
- 11.Hot Toddy2:59
The Absolutely Essential Collection2010
- 1.It's Been a Long Long Time2:58
- 2.Sleep2:03
- 3.Hawaiian Paradise3:04
- 4.Just One More Chance1:54
- 5.Send Me Some Money2:07
- 6.Lover2:49
- 7.Mr Sandman2:11
- 8.I'm a Fool to Care2:55
- 9.Song in Blue2:21
- 10.Mockin' Bird Hill2:19
- 11.My Baby's Comin' Home2:26
- 12.Moritat2:28
- 13.Johnny Is the Boy for Me2:01
- 14.In the Good Old Summertime2:11
- 15.South2:01
- 16.Bye Bye Blues2:03
- 17.How High the Moon2:09
- 18.Don'cha Hear Them Bells1:58
- 19.Lady of Spain1:53
- 20.Jazz Me Blues1:37
- 21.I'm Movin' On1:53
- 22.Meet Mister Callaghan1:52
- 23.Whispering2:00
- 24.Smoke Rings2:58
- 25.I Just Want Your Stingaree2:39
- 26.Mandolino2:24
- 27.Tiger Rag2:11
- 28.Little Rock Getaway2:26
- 29.I'm Sitting on Top of the World2:16
- 30.Walkin' and Whistlin' Blues2:42
- 31.Caravan2:58
- 32.The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise2:08
- 33.What Is This Thing Called Love?2:40
- 34.Magic Melody2:12
- 35.Vaya Con Dios2:54
- 36.Nola2:37
- 37.Song of the Islands2:10
- 38.Hummingbird2:39
- 39.Guitar Boogie2:28
- 40.I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)2:52
- 41.Tennessee Waltz3:10
- 42.Take Me in Your Arms and Hold Me2:13
- 43.Mammy's Boogie1:45
- 44.The Kangaroo2:38
- 45.Josephine2:01
- 46.The Carioca2:33
- 47.Twelfth Street Rag2:20
- 48.Brazil2:38
- 49.Rumors Are Flying2:55
- 50.I Really Don't Want to Know2:52
- 51.Hip-Billy Boogie2:32
- 52.Goofus2:39
- 53.I Wish I'd Never Seen Sunshine2:44
- 54.Jingle Bells1:35
- 55.Nuevo Laredo2:59
- 56.Amukiriki (The Lord Willing)2:53
- 57.Whither Thou Goest2:09
- 58.Deep Elem Blues2:56
- 59.On the Sunny Side of the Street2:37
- 60.Farewell (For Just a While)2:24
How High the Moon: Hits & Rarities From the Wizard of Waukesha2009
- 1.Lover2:52
- 2.Caravan (Multi-Tracked version)3:01
- 3.Hip-Billy Boogie2:34
- 4.The Swiss Woodpecker2:21
- 5.Brazil2:42
- 6.What Is This Thing Called Love?2:42
- 7.Nola2:39
- 8.Goofus2:40
- 9.Little Rock Getaway2:27
- 10.Tennessee Waltz3:10
- 11.Mockin' Bird Hill2:22
- 12.How High the Moon2:09
- 13.I Wish I Had Never Seen Sunshine2:47
- 14.The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise2:14
- 15.Just One More Chance1:57
- 16.Jazz Me Blues1:40
- 17.Josephine2:05
- 18.Whispering2:03
- 19.Jingle Bells1:38
- 20.Tiger Rag2:09
- 21.I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)2:54
- 22.The Carioca2:36
- 23.In the Good Old Summertime2:12
- 24.Smoke Rings3:00
- 25.Met Mister Callaghan1:53
- 26.Take Me in Your Arms and Hold Me2:16
- 27.Lady of Spain1:53
- 28.Bye Bye Blues2:07
- 29.Deep in the Blues2:33
- 30.Mammy's Boogie1:48
- 31.My Baby's Coming Home2:29
- 32.I'm Sitting on the Top of the World2:21
- 33.Sleep (Fred Waring's Theme Song)2:06
- 34.Vaya Con Dios2:56
- 35.Johnny (Is This Boy for Me)2:05
- 36.Don'cha Hear Them Bells2:02
- 37.The Kangaroo2:41
- 38.I Really Don't Want to Know2:54
- 39.I'm a Fool to Care2:58
- 40.Whither Thou Ghoest2:13
- 41.Mandolino2:27
- 42.Song in Blue2:20
- 43.Mr. Sandman2:14
- 44.That's What I Like2:37
- 45.Hummingbird2:42
- 46.Amukiriki (The Lord Willing)2:56
- 47.Magic Melody2:15
- 48.Texas Lady2:14
- 49.Moritat (Theme From Three Penny Opera)2:30
- 50.Nuevo Laredo3:03
- 51.Cinco Robles (Five Oaks)3:10
- 52.Put a Ring on My Finger1:58
- 53.Just Because2:57
- 54.Deep Elem Blues2:57
- 55.Out of Nowhere2:57
- 56.Begin the Beguine3:03
- 57.Dream Dust2:55
- 58.Dark Eyes2:43
- 59.Blue Skies2:39
- 60.Baby, What You Do for Me2:31
- 61.It's Been a Long, Long Time3:01
- 62.Rumors Are Flying2:58
- 63.What Would It Take?2:57
- 64.Steel Guitar Rag2:56
- 65.Guitar Boogie2:31
- 66.Caravan (Earlier Decca version)2:36
- 67.Subterfuge (Transcription Recording)2:12
- 68.Melodic Meal (Transcription Recording)1:53
- 69.Hand Picked (Transcription Recording)1:50
- 70.At Sundown (Transcription Recording)3:02
- 71.Coquette (Transcription Recording)2:09
- 72.I Found a New Baby (Transcription Recording)1:41
- 73.Danger, Men at Work (Transcription Recording)2:13
- 74.Short Circuit (Transcription Recording)1:36
- 75.Body and Soul (live From Jazz at the Philharmonic 1944)10:39
- 76.Rosetta (live From Jazz at the Philharmonic 1944)6:42
Vaya Con Dios2008
- 1.How High the Moon2:10
- 2.Tennessee Waltz3:08
- 3.Tico Tico1:36
- 4.Bye Bye Blues2:06
- 5.Mockin' Bird Hill2:17
- 6.Meet Mister Callaghan1:53
- 7.Tiger Rag2:11
- 8.Lady of Spain1:55
- 9.The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise2:07
- 10.In the Good Old Summertime2:11
- 11.I'm Sitting on Top of the World2:18
- 12.Vaya con Dios2:56
The Essential Collection2007
Tracklist not collected yet.
Isle of Golden Dreams, Volume 22005
- 1.Baby, What You Do for for Me2:30
- 2.Everybody Knew but Me3:15
- 3.Song of the Islands2:56
- 4.Sweet Leilani3:00
- 5.King's Serenade2:49
- 6.To You Sweetheart, Aloha2:47
- 7.Sweet Hawaiian Moonlight2:54
- 8.Aloha Oe2:50
- 9.Pretending2:43
- 10.Gotta Get Me Somebody to Love3:09
- 11.One Sided Affair2:47
- 12.What Would It Take2:56
- 13.Rumors Are Flying2:56
- 14.It's a Pity to Say Goodnight2:43
- 15.Steel Guitar Rag2:56
- 16.Guitar Boogie (1)3:38
- 17.Guitar Boogie (2)2:29
- 18.Caravan2:34
- 19.Somebody Loves Me3:05
- 20.Gotta Get Me Somebody to Love2:52
- 21.What Am I Gonna Do About You3:00
- 22.Drifting and Dreaming (Sweet Paradise)3:00
- 23.What Are You Doing for New Years Eve?2:26
- 24.My Future Just Passed2:51
American Made World Played2005
- 1.Intro0:14
- 2.Love Sneakin’ Up on You3:26
- 3.Rock & Roll, Hoochie Koo5:05
- 4.Somebody Ease My Troublin’ Mind3:33
- 5.So Into You4:41
- 6.How High the Moon2:10
- 7.Bad Case of Lovin’ You3:55
- 8.I Wanna Know You6:21
- 9.(Ain’t That) Good News4:05
- 10.Let Me Roll It4:03
- 11.Caravan2:08
- 12.Good Morning Little Schoolgirl4:01
- 13.All I Want Is You4:18
- 14.69 Freedom Special5:44
- 15.Fly Like an Eagle (2005)4:45
- 16.I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know6:47
Isle of Golden Dreams, Volume 12005
- 1.New Dupree Blues3:05
- 2.Daddy Let Me Lay It on You2:43
- 3.I Just Want Your Stingaree2:39
- 4.Black Rider2:28
- 5.I'll Keep Sittin' on It (If I Can't Sell It)2:58
- 6.Trouble in Mind2:36
- 7.Just Because2:55
- 8.Just Because Answer2:50
- 9.Deep Elem Blues #22:57
- 10.Deep Elem Blues2:56
- 11.Cindy2:23
- 12.Flipino Hombre2:43
- 13.Dream Dust3:02
- 14.Begin the Beguine (1)3:04
- 15.Dark Eyes2:31
- 16.Blues Skies (1)2:38
- 17.Blues Skies (2)2:37
- 18.Begin the Beguine (2)3:01
- 19.Dream Dust (2)2:54
- 20.Dark Eyes (2)2:41
- 21.It's Been a Long, Long Time2:59
- 22.Whose Dream Are You?3:15
- 23.Hawaiian Paradise3:04
- 24.My Isle of Golden Dreams2:44
- 25.Spellbound3:08
- 26.Everybody Knew but Me3:11
Isle of Golden Dreams, Volume 42005
- 1.Bye Bye Blues2:04
- 2.Deep in the Blues2:32
- 3.St. Louis Blues2:37
- 4.Mammy's Boogie1:45
- 5.I'm Sitting on the Top of the World2:16
- 6.Sleep2:03
- 7.Vaya Con Dios2:53
- 8.Johnny Is the Boy for Me2:01
- 9.Kangaroo, The2:38
- 10.Don'cha Hear Them Blues1:58
- 11.I Really Don't Want to Know2:52
- 12.South2:01
- 13.Episode #1: the Case of the Missing Les Paulverizer14:36
- 14.Episode #2: the Gas Guitar16:36
- 15.Episode #3: the Les Paulverizer14:15
Isle of Golden Dreams, Volume 32005
- 1.Lover2:49
- 2.Brazil2:38
- 3.Hip-Billy Boogie2:32
- 4.What Is This Thing Called Love2:40
- 5.Caravana2:58
- 6.Nola2:37
- 7.Cryin'2:49
- 8.Dry Me Tears2:13
- 9.Goofus2:39
- 10.Tennessee Waltz3:10
- 11.Little Rock Getaway2:26
- 12.Mockingbird Hill2:19
- 13.Chicken Reel2:08
- 14.How High the Moon2:06
- 15.Walkin' and Whistlin' Blues2:42
- 16.Josephine2:01
- 17.I Wish I'd Never Seen Sunshine2:44
- 18.In the Good Old Summertime2:10
- 19.Three Little Words1:57
- 20.Jazz Me Blues1:37
- 21.Just One More Chance1:54
- 22.Whispering2:00
- 23.The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise2:12
- 24.Jingle Bells1:35
- 25.Tiger Rag2:07
- 26.Carioca, The2:33
- 27.I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)2:52
- 28.Smoke Rings2:58
- 29.Meet Mister Callaghan1:51
- 30.Take Me in Your Arms and Hold Me2:13
- 31.Lady of Spain1:53
- 32.My Baby's Coming Home2:26
20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Les Paul2001
- 1.Blue Skies2:36
- 2.Begin the Beguine3:00
- 3.Dream Dust2:52
- 4.Dark Eyes2:40
- 5.It's Been a Long, Long Time2:58
- 6.Hawaiian Paradise3:03
- 7.Rumors Are Flying2:55
- 8.Steel Guitar Rag2:54
- 9.Somebody Loves Me3:03
- 10.Guitar Boogie2:28
- 11.Caravan2:33
- 12.What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?2:23
Trio1999
Tracklist not collected yet.
Chester & Lester / Guitar Monsters1997
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Complete Decca Trios-Plus (1936-47)1997
Tracklist not collected yet.
V-Disc - A Musical Contribution By America's Best1997
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Legend and the Legacy1991
Tracklist not collected yet.
Masters of the Guitar: Together1989
Tracklist not collected yet.
Early Les Paul1982
Tracklist not collected yet.
Guitar Monsters1978
Tracklist not collected yet.
Chester & Lester1976
Tracklist not collected yet.
Now!1968
Tracklist not collected yet.
The New Sound!1950
Tracklist not collected yet.
Dream Dust
Tracklist not collected yet.
How High the Moon
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Capitol Records
- Record label
- Columbia Records
- Record label
- Decca
Achievements
- Award
- National Medal of Arts
- Award
- Grammy Trustees Award
- Award
- New Jersey Hall of Fame
- Award
- National Inventors Hall of Fame
- Award
- Technical Grammy Award
- Award
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Groups
- Les Paul and His Triooriginalcurrent
- Les Paul & Mary Fordeponymous, original · 1950–1963
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Les Paul & Friends, Lester Polsfuss, Lester William Polfus, Polsfuss, Lester, Rhubarb Red
American jazz guitarist, country guitarist, songwriter and inventor (1915–2009)
Lester William Polsfuss, known as Les Paul, was an American jazz, country, and blues guitarist, songwriter, luthier, and inventor. He was one of the pioneers of the solid-body electric guitar, and his prototype, called the Log, served as inspiration for the Gibson Les Paul. Paul taught himself how to play guitar, and while he is mainly known for jazz and popular music, he had an early career in country music. In the 1950s, he and his wife, singer and guitarist Mary Ford, made numerous recordings, selling millions of copies.
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