Les Paul, one of the first great guitar heroes, died Thursday at 94.
Although an excellent player, Paul is better known for his work on the technical side of making music. He's considered one of the fathers of multitrack recording, a studio staple. And how can you forget the Gibson Les Paul, the solid-body guitar that bears his name?
"Les Paul set a standard for musicianship and innovation that remains unsurpassed. He was the original guitar hero, and the kindest of souls," said Joe Satriani in a statement. "Last October I joined him onstage at the Iridium club in [New York], and he was still shredding. He was and still is an inspiration to us all." "Les Paul was a shining example of how full one's life can be, he was so vibrant and full of positive energy," said Slash in a statement ... in the 1930s and '40s, he played with the bandleader Fred Waring and several big band singers, including Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and the Andrews Sisters, as well as with his own Les Paul Trio. In the early 1950s, he had a handful of huge hits with his then-wife, Mary Ford, such as "How High the Moon" and "Vaya Con Dios ..." His guitar style, heavily influenced by jazzman Django Reinhardt, featured lightning-quick runs and double-time rhythms.
As far as pedigree, it doesn't get any better than Django. But check this out:
In 1948, after being involved in a severe car accident, he asked the doctor to set his arm permanently in a guitar-playing position.
Now, that's a musician's musician.
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