Les Paul: Beyond the Frets

by | Jun 9, 2025 | Music, Technology, ThisDayInArt | 0 comments

Born Lester William Polsfuss on June 9, 1915, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Les Paul grew up in a German-American family. He was the second child of George and Evelyn Polsfuss and had an older brother named Ralph. After his parents’ divorce, Les was largely raised by his mother, who encouraged his early interest in music. By his teens, he was already combining musical performance with a keen interest in electronics—building his own amplifiers and experimenting with sound.

His musical career began with country music under the name “Rhubarb Red,” but he soon transitioned to jazz, forming the Les Paul Trio and becoming one of the most sought-after session guitarists of the 1940s. He played with the likes of Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole, and it was Crosby who helped finance one of Les’s earliest recording innovations. Ever the experimenter, Les built “The Log,” a crude but groundbreaking solid-body electric guitar, in the early 1940s.

Though Gibson initially rejected the design, they later collaborated with him to release the iconic Gibson Les Paul in 1952. This instrument became a cornerstone of modern rock and blues, used by countless legends and treasured for its rich, sustaining tone. The partnership between Les and Gibson marked a turning point in guitar history.

Les Paul’s impact extended beyond performance. He was a pioneer of multitrack recording and overdubbing, techniques that forever changed the way music is produced. These innovations were showcased in his legendary collaborations with Mary Ford, a singer and guitarist whom he married in 1949. Together, they recorded massive hits like “How High the Moon” and “Vaya Con Dios,” and captivated audiences on both radio and television. Their on-stage chemistry was real—they shared a deep personal connection and musical partnership.

Les had been previously married to Virginia Webb, with whom he had two sons: Lester Jr. (often known as Gene or Rusty), and Gene Paul. After their divorce in 1949, he married Mary Ford later that same year. Les and Mary had a daughter in 1954 who tragically passed away just four days after birth—a loss that weighed heavily on them. They later adopted a daughter, Colleen, in 1958, and welcomed a son, Robert (Bobby) Paul, in 1959. Despite their musical success, the strains of constant touring and industry pressure led to their divorce in 1964. Les did not remarry after that, but remained deeply devoted to his children and his music.

He continued to perform live well into his 90s, notably with a long-running Monday night residency at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York. In 2005, for his 90th birthday, he was honored with a tribute concert at Carnegie Hall featuring an all-star lineup. Les Paul passed away on August 13, 2009, at the age of 94. He left behind five children, a guitar that changed the world, and a legacy that continues to resonate in every note played on an electric string.

Citations:

Britannica. (n.d.). Les Paul. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Les-Paul

Lemelson-MIT Program. (n.d.). Les Paul. https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/les-paul

Vanity Fair. (2009, August). Les Paul departs, but we’ll always have his guitar. https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2009/08/les-paul-departs-but-well-always-have-his-guitar

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Les Paul. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Paul

Waukesha Guitar Town. (n.d.). Les Paul History. https://www.waukeshaart.com/guitar-town-waukesha/les-paul-history

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