An interactive journey through more than eight decades of Les Paul's music career, from "The Log" to Carnegie Hall.
On June 9, 1915, Les Paul is born Lester William Polsfuss in Waukesha to parents George and Evelyn Polsfuss.
Paul picks up his first instrument, the harmonica, at 8 years old.
After receiving his first guitar, a Sears, Roebuck Troubadour, Paul starts performing in Waukesha as "Red Hot Red" at age 13.
Paul drops out of high school to team up with his mentor and guitar tutor, "Sunny Joe" Wolverton. They perform in Springfield, Mo., and St. Louis for "hillbilly" radio stations.
Paul changes his stage name from "Rhubarb Red" back to "Les Paul," which he continues to go by for the rest of his career.
At age 20, Paul forms his first band with Ernie Newton and Jimmie Atkins. He begins another electric guitar experiment.
Paul introduces the nation to the sound of the electric guitar on an NBC radio broadcast with Fred Waring, a popular musician and radio-television personality, and the Pennsylvanians.
Now living in New York, Paul creates "The Log." This guitar consists of a 4-by-4 piece of wood, strings, a standard Epiphone neck and "wings." He eventually braces the guitar with a thin steel bar, makes his own pick-ups and turns "The Log" into "The Klunker." He uses his new guitar for more than decade.
After moving to Los Angeles, Paul is drafted into the U.S Army. He works for the Armed Forces Radio Service where he produces radio shows and a series of V-Disc recordings - music recorded by big names to boost military morale.
Bing Crosby hears Paul's impressive accompaniment of his hit “It’s Been a Long, Long Time,” and urges him to open a recording studio. Paul soundproofs his garage in Hollywood, where he records various artists.
Paul is introduced to Colleen Summers, his future wife. They return to NBC to perform "hillbilly" radio shows together as "Rhubarb Red" and "Mary Ford."
Paul's mother tells him every other guitar player sounds just like him on the radio. He returns to his garage for two years to research recording effects, such as dubbing and echo, to create a new sound.
Paul and Ford sign with Capitol Records.
After two years in his garage, Paul finally comes out with 22 recordings of a new sound - overdubbed guitars. Over dubbing means to record additional sounds on an already existing record.
Gibson Guitar Corporation finally begins building a solid-body guitar and asks Les Paul to endorse it.
Paul envisions the 8-track tape recorder. He works with Ampex, an American electronics Company, to manufacture the product, which is eventually delivered to him in 1957. Paul and Ford's biggest hit, "Vaya Con Dios" is released.
Paul comes up with a new invention for his guitar - a remote control switch that allows Paul to play and change pre-recorded tracks off stage.
The emerging rock 'n' roll scene, using Paul's own guitar invention, forces Paul and Ford to leave Capitol Records and sign with Columbia Records.
Paul and Ford receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in California.
Paul retires from performing for more than a decade.
Paul returns from retirement to record the album "Chester and Lester," with Chet Atkins, which receives a 1977 Grammy Award for "Best Country Instrumental Performance."
Paul wins the The Recording Academy’s Grammy Hall of Fame Award for the song "How High The Moon," which he recorded with wife Mary Ford.
The Recording Academy presents Paul with the Trustees Award.
Paul is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the "Architect of Rock 'n' Roll."
Paul is featured in a pretty awesome Coors beer commercial.
The Recording Academy awards Paul with a Technical Grammy.
Paul celebrates his 90th birthday at Carnegie Hall in New York with a tribute concert.
Les Paul passes away on August 13th, 2009 in White Plains, N.Y. He was 94 years old.
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