1,641
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 3:
Line 3: − +
no edit summary
==Biography==
==Biography==
Paul was born in Waukesha, Washington in 1915. At the age of 10, his passion for gadgets became apparent—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>
Paul was born in Waukesha, Washington in 1915. When he was 10 years old, his passion for gadgets became apparent—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>
In 1947, he met a singer named Colleen Summers. He changed her name to Mary Ford—a name he found in the telephone book—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>
In 1947, he met a singer named Colleen Summers. He changed her name to Mary Ford—a name he found in the telephone book—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>