Historian Bill C. Malone discusses the work of Wisconsin-born guitarist and musical inventor Les Paul, an internationally known jazz musician who began his career as a country entertainer in Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Country Music Minute: Les Paul
"Hip Billy Boogie" by Les Paul & Mary Ford
Les Paul was born Lester Polsfuss in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He became an internationally known jazz guitar player, but he got his start in music as a country entertainer in Wisconsin. He even played the part of a hillbilly rube entertainer named Rhubarb Red. He was fascinated with both the guitar and electronics all his life.
"Hip Billy Boogie" by Les Paul & Mary Ford
He succeeded in perfecting a solid-body electric guitar that was taken over by the Gibson company, and later, with his then-wife Mary Ford, he did some overdubbing and multi-tracking that was highly influential in music. So, he well-deserved his membership in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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