I really didn't want too much time to pass before I said something about the great Les Paul who passed away a couple weeks ago at the age of 94. He was a pioneer in sound, music and inventions which helped create modern day rock n' roll. He experimented with, and eventually created what is known as the solid-body-electric guitar, which was what made the rock sound possible.
His most famous invention bears his name, the Gibson Les Paul, perhaps one of the best known styles of guitar in rock music. Most of the early pioneers of rock used this style of guitar to create their sound, among them Chuck Berry and Bill Haley, some of the first artists to introduce rock n' roll to the masses.
In addition to being a music innovator, Les Paul himself was also a very talented musician. He had many hit records that he performed with his wife, country singer Mary Ford. Today's track comes from a Les Paul compilation album called 'Les Paul Now' and features a great track by Les Paul and Mary Ford.
The song is "How High The Moon" and has Mary Ford on vocals and Les Paul playing guitar. The track is from 1951, but already you can hear the emergence of the rock sound from Les Paul's guitar.
Keep in mind when you listen to the track how unique guitar work like this would have been in the early 1950's. This was four years before Bill Haley's "Rock Around The Clock" and Elvis Presley's "That's Alright Mama", both of which are considered to be some of the first true rock n' roll songs.
So happy trails to Les Paul. One of the true creators of Rock n' Roll. Click the link to see how high the moon really is.
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