Les Paul

Les Paul -Jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor; born Lester William Polsfuss on June 9, 1915 in Waukesha, Wisconsin. His family was of German ancestry and Paul's mother was related to the founders of Milwaukee's Valentin Blatz Brewing Company and the makers of the Stutz Bearcat automobile. Paul was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which "made the sound of rock and roll possible".

Honors include:

In 2007, Les was given the National Medal of Arts.
In 2005, Les was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for his development of the solid-body electric guitar.
In 2005, Les was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In 1990, Les was inducted into the Big Band & Jazz Hall of Fame.
In 1996, Les was inducted into the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame in 1996.
In 1988, Les was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by guitarist Jeff Beck, who said, "I've copied more licks from Les Paul than I'd like to admit."
In 1976, Les and Chet Atkins received the Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental.
In 2005, Less received Grammy Awards for Best Pop Instrumental for "Caravan" and Best Rock Instrumental for 69 Freedom Special."

For more information on Les Paul, visit Wikipedia.

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