Lester William Polsfuss – a.k.a. Les Paul – is born in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Les Paul begins performing country music as “Rhubarb Red” at the age of 13.
Les Paul’s jazz trio performs at the White House at the request of President Roosevelt.
Les Paul invents the first solidbody electric guitar.
Les Paul temporarily drops out of music to work on a new guitar sound and recording style.
The technique of multitracking is introduced to the world when Les Paul releases his first eight-track recordings.
Les Paul nearly dies when his car skids off a bridge in a snowstorm.
Les Paul marries singer Mary Ford, with whom he forms a highly successful musical duo.
The Les Paul Show, featuring Paul, Ford and rhythm guitarist Eddie Stapleton, debuts on NBC Radio.
“How High the Moon,” by Les Paul and Mary Ford, becomes a #1 single.
The Les Paul gold-top solidbody electric guitar is brought to the market by Gibson Guitars.
“Vaya Con Dios,” by Les Paul and Mary Ford, becomes a #1 single. The song’s title translates as “May God Be With You.”
Les Paul commissions Ampex to build the first eight-track tape recorder. It features a head, designed by Paul, that can record or play back tracks. Paul’s “Sel-Sync” (Selective Synchronization) design becomes the industry standard for 30 years.
Gibson introduces the new Les Paul model, which has design changes made without Paul’s knowledge. At his request, it is renamed the Gibson SG, and the guitarist temporarily drops his endorsement contract with the guitar maker.
Les Paul Now!, which features updated version of the guitarist’s earlier hits, is released on London Records.
Chester and Lester, and album of guitar duets by Les Paul and Chet Atkins, is released on RCA. It will win a Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance.
Les Paul and Mary Ford are inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Les Paul receives the Trustees Award from the Recording Academy in recognition of his “significant contributions to the field of reocrding.”
Les Paul begins a Monday-evening residency at a Greenwich Village club called Fat Tuesday, which will continue until 1995.
Les Paul is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the 3rd annual induction dinner. Jeff Beck is his presenter.
Les Paul is inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
American Made/World Played, credited to Les Paul & Friends, is released on Capitol Records. It includes appearances by Eric Clapton, Joe Perry, Jeff Beck, Keith Richards and Buddy Guy.
Les Paul is honored as the 2008 American Music Master, part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum’s annual series.
At age 94, Les Paul died of complications from pneumonia at White Plains Hospital.
