Hard Rock International Mourns the Passing of Les Paul, 1915-2009

The man synonymous with the electric guitar, Les Paul, died today in White Plains, New York. He was 94. Born William Lester Polfuss, Les Paul revolutionized the music world as a musician, inventor, and pioneer of the electric guitar.

He developed "The Log" – a solidbody electric guitar that was initially scoffed at by the major instrument manufacturers, but eventually superceded all other designs as the #1 tool for rock 'n' roll music. In 1952, Gibson guitars developed the solidbody Les Paul signature model electric. Eric Clapton plays a Les Paul, as does (or did) Jeff Beck, Duane Allman, The Edge, Ace Frehley, and the list goes on and on. Without Les Paul, rock music as we know it simply wouldn't exist. 

Les worked closely with Music Rising, one of Hard Rock's favorite charities.