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'''Lester William Polsfuss''' was an award-winning [[country music|country]] and [[jazz]] musician who released many successful singles. He was born on June 9, 1915 in Waukesha, Wisconsin. His wife, the singer Mary Ford (born Iris Colleen Summers on July 7, 1924, in Pasadena, California). As Les Paul & Mary Ford they together revolutionized the recording industry and dominated the Hit Parade with their unique sound.

'''Lester William Polsfuss''' (June 9, 1915 - August 12, 2009) (later known as '''Les Paul''') was an award-winning [[country music|country]] and [[jazz]] musician. He is credited with the invention of the [[electric guitar]], as well as many recording techniques still used today.  

Les Paul is credited as a pioneer in the development of the electric guitar and the father of multi-track recording. Dropping out of

high school in his teens he was performing as a country music guitarist on KMOX radio in St. Louis, [[Missouri]] and in the 1930s as a jazz musician on radio in Chicago, [[Illinois]].

Paul was born in Waukesha, Washington in 1915. At the age of 10, his passion for gadgets became apparent&mdash;he fashioned a harmonica-holder out of a coat hanger so that he could play guitar while playing the harmonica.<ref name="NYTIMES">[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/14/arts/music/14paul.html?_r=1 "Les Paul, Guitar Innovator, Dies at 94"; The ''New York Times'' Online]</ref> By his late teens, he had moved to Chicago to play on the [[country music]] circuit.<ref name="ANSWER">[http://www.answers.com/topic/les-paul Les Paul biography]</ref> While in Chicago, he led the house band at WJJD, billing himself as the "Wizard of Waukesha."<ref name="NYTIMES"></ref>

Les Paul teamed with Mary Ford, a country music singer in 1946 and by 1949 they were married. Using the technique created by Les,

In 1947, he met a singer named Colleen Summers. He changed her name to Mary Ford&mdash;a name he found in the telephone book&mdash;when he made the decision to go on tour with her. In 1948, Paul's musical career was almost ended when he shattered his right elbow in a car crash. However, he instructed surgeons to set his arm at a 90 degree angle so that he could still pick a guitar. The injury took a year and a half to recover from.<ref name="ROCK">[http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/les-paul Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]</ref>

Mary was recorded singing multi harmony resulting in a #1 Hit Parade topper in April, 1951, “Mockin’ Bird Hill”, followed that

summer with another #1 hit, “How High the Moon” and two more top five hits "The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise"and "Just One More Chance" before that year would end.  

They hit in 1952 with, "Tiger Rag", “In the Good Old Summertime”, “I’m Confessin’ that I Love You.” "Smoke Rings" and a top five

Paul married Mary Ford in 1949. Recording as a duo, they released hits such as "How High the Moon" and "Viya Con Dios," both of which reached #1. These recordings introduced Paul's technique of "overdubbing"&mdash;layering musical sounds on top of one another as opposed to recording each one at the same time.<ref name="ROCK"></ref>

instrumental from Les “Meet Mr. Callaghan”.  

In the top ten of 1953 were "Bye, Bye Blues" and "I'm Sitting On Top Of The World."

In 1988, Les Paul was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. [[Jeff Beck]], a famous blues guitarist, was his presenter.<ref name ="ROCK"></ref> He is one of a handful of artists with a stand-alone exhibit.<ref>[http://www.rockhall.com/exhibithighlights/ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Exhibit Highlights]</ref>

But it was the song that stayed on the charts for a record breaking 35 weeks, 11 weeks straight at #1, “Vaya Con Dios” that was the biggest hit of the year for Les and Mary. The flip side, "Johnny Is The Boy For Me," also nearly landed in the top ten.

Les Paul died in 2009, and played a regular Monday-night gig at a New York City jazz club until shortly before he passed away.

 

In 1954 their were three more top ten hits, "Whither Thou Goest," "I Really Don't Want To Know" and "I'm A Fool To Care".

 

In 1978 Les Paul and Mary Ford were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 1983, Les received a Grammy Trustees Award for his lifetime achievements. In 2006 at the age of 90, Les Paul won two more Grammys. He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. In 2007 they were nominated by the Hit Parade Hall of Fame. Les Paul and Mary Ford have also been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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[[category:Guitarists]]

[[category:Guitarists]]