Les Paul, 1915-2009

Sometimes a guy sees a need for a better mousetrap, or perhaps he hears a need for its sonic equivalent. He knows it'll work, and just maybe it'll work well enough to take off.

In the case of Les Paul, who passed away Thursday, August 13 in New York at the age of 94, his innovation changed not only the sound but also the very trajectory of American music as it progressed and flourished over the course of the 20th century.

It began with a sense of frustration in the late 1930s: As a young musician, Paul felt hemmed in by the timbre and inadequate volume of the acoustic guitar. Tinkering with microphones and then with electromagnetic coil pickups, Paul fashioned an early electric guitar he affectionately dubbed "The Log," made with a slab of 4" x 4" lumber, the neck from a disassembled guitar, and his electronic adaptation.

While competing instrument manufacturers Richenbacher and Fender were concurrently and independently hard at work on electric guitars in various incarnations, it was Paul's design of the early solid body electric guitar that captured the attention of Nashville, Tennessee's Gibson Guitar Corporation.

What arose from The Log's humble beginnings appeared a few years later in 1952 as the Gibson Les Paul electric guitar. This instrument, alongside the rivaling Fender Stratocaster, would become iconic and emblematic for rock 'n' roll itself. Think: Pete Townsend. Slash. Keith Richards. Bob Marley. The Edge.

Another Les Paul innovation rising from his technical abilities was his development of multitrack recording which also went on to bring significant benefit and change to the recording and production of music. The application of multitrack recording technology first appeared on his and Ford's 1951 hit song "How High the Moon."

An accomplished musician who played on stage and in recordings with Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole, Paul enjoyed success in his own right alongside his vocalist wife Mary Ford as well, with whom he recorded several hits. Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 10 years later, Paul continued to play regularly through the rest of his life.

In addition to his formidable gifts as player and innovator, Paul is remembered for his humor and kindness. Global media report early reactions to Paul's passing:

Joe Satriani: “Les Paul set a standard for musicianship and innovation that remains unsurpassed. He was the original guitar hero, and the kindest of souls.”

Slash: "Les Paul was a shining example of how full one's life can be. He was so vibrant and full of positive energy. I'm honoured and humbled to have known and played with him over the years."

Photo: Les Paul performing in New York, 2008, courtesy Arnoldius, via Wikimedia Commons