The celebrapocalypse continues with amplitude: legendary inventor of the electric guitar Les Paul has passed. The 94-year-old visionary is best known for his signature line of Gibson guitars and a number of technological developments responsible for the rise of rock music.
Since the 1940s, Paul’s influence has shaped the way we see and hear music. Perhaps the best way to sum up just what Les Paul gave the world is through his own words: “To have the dynamics, to have the way of expressing yourself beyond the normal limits of an unamplified instrument, was incredible. Today a guy wouldn’t think of singing a song on a stage without a microphone and a sound system.”
Les Paul died in White Plains, New York with his friends and family by his side. His importance in the music community is paramount, and won’t soon be forgotten. Rest in peace, Les.
Here’s to a hell of a guy and a hell of a guitar. And the subsequent dedication series of guitars Gibson is sure to put out.