Les Paul's innovations shaped Rock and Roll as we know it

August 13, 8:27 PMNashville Festivals ExaminerChris Griffy

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Innovator and guitar legend Les Paul died today at the age of 94. While his passing has not generated a tenth of the coverage that Michael Jackson did a month ago, Les Paul unarguably contributed more to rock and roll’s development and history than even The King of Pop.

Paul is probably best known for being one of the primary developers of the solid body electric guitar. Long considered the Holy Grail of electric guitars, the Gibson Les Paul is the preferred axe of legendary guitarists such as Duane Allman, Eric Clapton, Buck Dharma, Ace Frehley, Jimmy Page, and Keith Richards. As a young musician in high school, the purchase of a Gibson Les Paul by a fellow guitarist was regarded with the same reverence that the purchase of a Ford Mustang or a Chevy Corvette would to most high schoolers.

Les Paul didn’t stop with the electric guitar. He was also the innovator credited with developing overdubbing, phasing effects, and multi track recording. His recording techniques are considered standard operating procedure in Rock and Roll music today.

But Les Paul’s greatest innovations were in the way he played his guitar. His innovative licks and trills have been cited by such diverse artists as Slash, Joe Satriani, and Keith Richards as major influences. He was considered a better, faster, and more agile guitar player at 90 than many Hall of Fame guitarists were in their prime.

Les Paul’s Nashville connections were well-known and well-documented. His album Chester and Lester, recorded with Chet Atkins, won Paul his first Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance in 1976. Paul’s country music influenced generations of Country stars.

Next time you’re standing in a crowd at Bonnaroo or the CMA Music Festival watching Buckethead, Kirk Hammett, Mark Knopfler, Alex Lifeson, or Kix Brooks noodle away on their Gibson Les Paul Guitar, give a silent thanks to the man who started it all.

More coverage of Les Paul

Photo Credit: Arnoldius/Wikimedia Commons