Frater Les Paul Celebrates 93rd Birthday

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Offices of the Grand Chapter extend a heartfelt Happy Birthday to Frater Les Paul (Gamma-Delta, Univ. of Miami) as he celebrates his 93rd birthday.

Born Lester William Polsfuss, the music icon adopted the simplified stage name Les Paul and began his career as a professional guitarist at age 13. In 1941, Frater Les Paul developed one of the first solid-body electric guitars. Through his partnership with Gibson Guitars, the first Les Paul guitar was sold in the early 1950s. Today, Gibson Les Paul guitars are still sold worldwide in a wide variety of setups, styles and finishes.

One of the most popular Les Paul models is the handsome Gibson Vintage Mahogany Les Paul Guitar. With a carved mahogany top on a mahogany back, this model resembles the guitar that was first debuted as the famous 1957 Custom Black Beauty.

Frater Les Paul is also remembered for his groundbreaking innovations in multi-track recording. Using wax discs to overlay tracks, he composed "Lover (When You're Near Me)" in 1947 and the session that produced the song marked the first time multi-tracking was used in professional recording.

To learn more about Les Paul, click here.

Frater Les Paul still performs weekly in New York City's Iridium Jazz Club. The Offices of the Grand Chapter sends a loud chorus of sincere thanks to this American jazz guitarist for his groundbreaking work and wishes him a very happy birthday.

If you would like to see your chapter news here, contact Communications Coordinator Tom McAninch.