Thaindian News

Aug 14 (IBNS) Legendary guitarist Les Paul, who invented the solid-body electric guitar later wielded by a legion of rock ‘n’ roll greats, passed away in New York Thursday after he developed complications from pneumonia. He was 94.

Paul died at White Plains Hospital and his family and friends were by his side, reports wtopnews.com.

Paul helped to bring back the rise of rock ‘n’ roll with multitrack recording, which helped artists to record different instruments at different times, sing harmony with them.

Electric guitar became popular in the mid-to-late 1940s, and then became a rage with the advent of rock in the mid-’50s.

“Suddenly, it was recognized that power was a very important part of music. To have the dynamics, to have the way of expressing yourself beyond the normal limits of an unamplified instrument, was incredible. Today a guy wouldn’t think of singing a song on a stage without a microphone and a sound system,” Paul said once.

Terry Stewart, president of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, paid rich tribute to Paul.

“Without Les Paul, we would not have rock and roll as we know it. His inventions created the infrastructure for the music and his playing style will ripple through generations. He was truly an architect of rock and roll,” he said.