August 13: Guitar innovator Les Paul died on this day in 2009 from pneumonia.

Paul - born Lester William Polsfuss in 1915 in Wankesha, Wisconsin, is considered one of the legends in modern music. He pioneered the development of the electric guitar making it a staple of rock 'n roll and other modern musical styles.

A TV staple in the 1950s, along with his wife, Mary Ford, Paul developed his own design for a solid-bodied guitar when he became unhappy with the sound of the guitars available at the time.
Paul was the godfather of Steve Miller of the Steve Miller Band. Paul gave Miller his first guitar lesson.

In 1988, Paul was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Jeff Beck, who said, "I've copied more licks from Les Paul than I'd like to admit."

In August, 2009, Paul was named one of the ten best electric guitar players of all-time by Time Magazine.

Press links below to view You Tube videos:

• "How High the Moon" (In 1979, Paul's 1951 recording of "How High the Moon" - along with wife Mary Ford - was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.)
• Les Paul & Mary Ford
• Les Paul & Chet Atkins

Les Paul's official website

Les Paul's last interview. (Published after his death.)