Guitar 'Wizard' Would Have Turned 111 Years Old Today
On June 9, guitar "wizard" Les Paul would have turned 111 years old.
Paul's influence on the music industry continues to resonate decades after his groundbreaking innovations helped shape the sound of modern rock and popular music. His pioneering work in electric guitar design and recording techniques forever changed how music is created and produced, and leaves a legacy that still inspires artists today.
The Washington Post cited Paul's nickname "The Wizard of Waukesha" in a story about his industry accomplishments. He was christened with the moniker as he hailed from the Wisconsin town.
He was widely credited with inventing the electric guitar. Paul called his early prototype The Log because of its solid wooden body.
Parade Daily🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬
According to the National Inventors Hall of Fame, "His innovations led to his first solid-body electric guitar in 1941. Coupled with his pioneering recording techniques, Paul introduced the public to his fast, multitrack productions that frequently included Paul playing as many as six musical parts simultaneously through the process of overdubbing. He also designed and built his own multi-track tape recorders."
Paul continued to improve the solid-body guitar for over a decade. In 1952, Gibson Guitar Corp. introduced the Les Paul model. It became wildly successful and helped to cement his status as one of the most influential figures in modern music.
According to a story published by Rhino Records, Paul discussed his invention. "What I wanted to do is not have two things vibrating. I wanted the string to vibrate and nothing else. I wanted the guitar to sustain longer than an acoustical box and have different sounds than an acoustical box."
His guitar innovations inspired some of the most influential musicians in the music business. Fans of the Gibson Les Paul include Jeff Beck, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Richie Sambora, Duane Allman, Mike Bloomfield, Eddie Van Halen and Jimmy Page.
Paul was also highly respected as a jazz-pop musician. With his wife Mary Ford, he recorded the hits "How High the Moon" (1951) and "Vaya Con Dios" (1953).
In 1978, the couple was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for their song "How High the Moon." Additionally, he received a Grammy Trustees Award for his lifetime achievements in 1983.
Les Paul had a longstanding weekly gig at NYC's Fat Tuesdays from 1983 through 1995. He subsequently held a residency at The Iridium from April 1996 until shortly before his death in August 2009 at the age of 94.
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 10:08 AM.