Musicians worldwide are paying tribute to Les Paul, the music icon whose solid-body electric guitar paved the way for rock ‘n' roll. He died this week at age 94. Paul, a guitar virtuoso, performed with some of early pop's biggest names and produced a slew of hits, many with wife Mary Ford. But it was his inventive streak that made him universally revered by guitar gods as their original ancestor and earned his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the most important forces in popular music. “He actually taught himself to play guitar in order to demonstrate his electronic theories,” said Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards. “All of us owe an unimaginable debt to his work and his talent.” Paul, who died Thursday in White Plains, New York, of complications from pneumonia, was a tireless tinkerer, whose quest for a particular sound led him to create the first solid-body electric guitar. His invention became the standard instrument for legends like Pete Townshend and Jimmy Page. Paul also developed technology that would become hallmarks of rock and pop recordings, from multitrack recording that allowed for multiple layers of “overdubs” to guitar reverb and other sound effects.Private services are being planned for New York and Waukesha, Wisconsin, Paul's hometown, according to an obituary posted by the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City, where until recently Paul had played every week. Public memorial tributes also are being planned.
