Les Paul passed away

Les Paul, 84, father of electric guitar died on August 13. As reported to the Rolling Stone, Paul’s manager confirmed that the guitar legend was suffering from sever pneumonia and passed away in a New York hospital due to respiratory failure.

Lester William Polsfuss, known as Les Paul (Borne June 9, 1915, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, U.S. and on Died August 13, 2009) was a legendary musician and inventor. He also used the nickname “Red Hot Red”.

He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which “made the sound of rock and roll possible.

He is credited with inventing or discovering many recording innovations including

• overdubbing (also known as sound on sound,

• delay effects such as tape delay,

• phasing effects, and

• multitrack recording.

His innovative talents extended into his playing style, including licks, trills, chording sequences, fretting techniques and timing, which set him apart from his contemporaries and inspired many of the guitarists of the present day.

In 1978, Les Paul and Mary Ford were introducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Paul received a Grammy Trustees Award for his lifetime achievements in 1983. In 1988, Paul was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Jeff Beck.

In 1991, the Mix Foundation established an annual award in his name; the Les Paul Award which honors “individuals or institutions that have set the highest standards of excellence in the creative application of audio technology.

Les Paul was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in May 2005 for his development of the solid-body electric guitar. In 2006, Paul was inducted into the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame. He was named an honorary member of the Audio Engineering Society.

In 2006, at the age of 90, he won two Grammys at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards for his album Les Paul & Friends: American Made World Played. (source:Wikipedia)