Title Page | Collection Summary | Biographical/Organizational Note | Scope and Content | Arrangement
Biographical Note
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1915, June 9 | Born Lester William Polsfuss in Waukesha, Wisconsin |
| 1927 | Started performing on Chicago radio station WLS |
| 1932 | Adopted the stage name "Rhubard Red" and left school to perform full-time with Sunny Joe Wolverton and his Scalawags |
| 1934 | Worked at Chicago radio station WJJD performing country music as Rhubard Red |
| mid-1930s | Began experimenting with construction of semi-solid bodied guitars and overdubbing recording techniques Adopted the name "Les Paul" for his jazz performances on another Chicago radio station, WIND |
| 1937 | Formed the Les Paul Trio with Ernie Newton and Jim Atkins Married Virginia Webb Moves to New York City |
| 1938 | The Les Paul Trio joins the Pennsylvanians, an orchestra under the direction of Fred Waring |
| 1941 | Built the "Log," the first solid-body electric guitar Suffered electrocution during a jam session Left the Pennsylvanians and disbanded the original Les Paul Trio Briefly served as music director Chicago radio stations WJJD and WIND, performing as "Rhubard Red," left soon after to arrange and perform with the WBBM studio orchestra |
| 1943 | Moved to Los Angeles, California Drafted into the Army and served in the Armed Forces Radio Network |
| 1945 | Bing Crosby and the new Les Paul Trio's recording of "It's been a long, long time" rises to #1 on the Billboard charts |
| mid-1940s | Began experimenting with recording techniques that included overdubbing, asynchronously record different tracks onto the same tape |
| 1946 | Toured with the Andrews Sisters. Their song "Rumors are flying" reached #1 on the Billboard pop charts. Began working with singer and guitarist Mary Ford, who was performing as part of the Sunshine Girls on CBS Radio |
| 1948 | Released "Lover," his first solo single using multitrack recording Paul and Ford involved in a severe car accident. Doctors set his arm at a permanent angle so he could play guitar. |
| 1949 | Divorced first wife, Virginia Webb, and married Mary Ford |
| 1951 | Paul and Ford release "How high the moon," another multi-track recording that stayed at number #1 on the Billboard charts for several weeks. Several hits follow |
| 1952 | Gibson begins selling the Gibson Les Paul solid-bodied electric guitar |
| 1955 | "Hummingbird" was last top-40 hit |
| 1964 | Paul and Ford divorced |
| 1975 | Paul and Chet Atkins's album Chester and Lester won Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Performance |
| 1984 | Began performing weekly at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City |
| 1988 | Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame |
| 2005 | Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame Inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame Won Grammy Awards for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Caravan" and Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "69 Freedom Special" on Les Paul & Friends: American Made World Played |
| 2009, Aug. 12 | Died in White Plains, New York |