Les Paul: The Search for the New Sound

How do you make history?

He heard the sound in his mind—a unique sound that no one had ever heard before—and he wanted to share it with the world. Les Paul’s natural curiosity and relentless enthusiasm for music, guitar, and electronics propelled this “Wizard of Waukesha” into music history. His groundbreaking music techniques are still used in the music recording industry today.

Meet Les Paul

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Questions to Consider

Les showed a curiosity about sound, and an interest in music from an early age, which his mother recognized and supported. How did that impact what he did growing up and as an adult? How have the people around you encouraged you to follow your interests?

Throughout his life, Les invented new musical tools. What kinds of problems did his inventions help solve? Can you think of other ways he could have solved some of those problems?

During his musical career, Les formed groups and played music with others. Have you been part of a group before (could be at school or for another activity)? What do you think makes a good group member?

Peek Into the Past

A black and white photograph showing Les Paul seated, and holding a guitar, and looking at the viewer.

Young Les Paul

Lester (Les) William Polsfuss as a young man.

Les Paul Foundation.

A black and white photograph of Evelyn and young Les Paul sitting together on a bench outside, facing towards each other.

Les and his Mother

Les as a boy with his mother, Evelyn. She encouraged her son’s curiosity about music.

Les Paul Foundation.

A black and white photograph of young Les Paul standing and playing the guitar and harmonica, with a wire holding the harmonica in place.

His First Invention

Les’s first invention was a harmonica holder that he made out of a wire coat hanger.

Les Paul Foundation.

A black and white image of a group of young people with instruments standing in front of a loat wtih a sign that reads, “Junior Optimist 'Red Hot' Rag Time Band.”

Les and His Band

Les playing the guitar with his band (1929).

Les Paul Foundation.

A black and white photograph in the studio. Les is seated in the center of the photo, holding a guitar and looking at the viewer. On the left side of the photo is Bing Crosby, who is looking down at a piece of paper. On the right side of the photo are Les's bandmates with a guitar and a string bass.

The Les Paul Trio

The Les Paul Trio became a very popular jazz band. They played for famous singers like Bing Crosby (seated on the far left).

Les Paul Foundation.

A color photograph of rectangular instrument with metal fixtures and strings connected to a piece of wood. Below the instrument is a white piece of paper with the words “The Log” on it.

The Log Guitar

Les asked the Gibson Guitar Company to manufacture the Log, but they refused.

Discovery World, Milwaukee, WI. 2014.

A color image showing a metal tower and recorder.

Multitrack Recorder

An early multitrack recorder like the one Les Paul used. This allowed him to record multiple tracks and then put them together.

Les Paul Foundation.Les Paul Foundation.

A black and white photograph of Les Paul and Mary Ford performing on stage, each holding a guitar, with a large band behind them.

Les Paul & Mary Ford

Les Paul and Mary Ford performing. They had a television show together from 1953 to 1960.

Les Paul Foundation.

A color photograph of a star with the words “Les Paul and Mary Ford” on it in gold, along with a musical note.

Walk of Fame Star

Mary and Les earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1960).

Les Paul Foundation.

A black and white photograph of a much older Les on stage with a band playing music. Les is smiling.

Les Making Music

Les’s music and inventions are his legacy.

Les Paul Foundation.

A color image showing a gold electric guitar on display.

Les Paul Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Gold Top guitar (1952).

Wisconsin Media Lab. 2014.

Playing with Bing Crosby

The Les Paul Trio playing with Bing Crosby (seated on the far left).

Image courtesy of the Les Paul Foundation.

A color image of Les Paul seated, in a tuxedo, holding an electric guitar, next to a multitrack recorder.

Les the Inventor

Lester (Les) William Polsfuss with a couple of his signature inventions: a Les Paul guitar and a multitrack recorder.

Les Paul Foundation.

A black and white photograph of two men standing next to each other, wearing suits, looking at the viewer.

Les and Ralph

Les and his brother, Ralph (left).

Les Paul Foundation.

Read On

Get the full story with this biography book. Audio files are available on each page if you’d like to listen along!

Project Credits

Producer
Dan Kaplan
Becky Marburger

Associate Producer
Joe Young

Animation & Illustration
The Brave Union

Animation Voice Over
Audio excerpts of Les Paul courtesy of Wizard of Waukesha Stray Cat Productions, Inc. 1979

Audiobook Narration
Paul Elite

Audiobook Editing
Kerman Eckes

Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Vicki Way Kipp

Educator Support Materials
Mia Forslund

Web
John Vieth
Erika Kachama-Nkoy
Tim Schneider

Design
Charles Barrows

Communications
MJ Hecox

Translation Services
University of Wisconsin-Madison Cultural Linguistic Services

Executive Producer
Peggy Garties

Special Thanks
Marta Bechtol
Kurt Griesemer

Story Advisors

Brenda Autz
Park Elementary School
Middleton, WI
(2014)

Charlene Dupler
Lakeview Elementary School
Wind Lake, WI
(2014)

Kurt Griesemer
Wisconsin HIstorical Society
Madison, WI
(2014)

Kristen McDaniel
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Madison, WI
(2014)

David J. O’Connor
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Madison, WI
(2014)

Amanda Price
Marshall Elementary School
Marshall, WI
(2014)

Beth Thayer
Hillsboro Elementary School
Hillsboro, WI
(2021)

Corey Thompson
Cardinal Stritch University
(2014)

Stephanie Unertl
Lake Mills Area School District
Lake Mills, WI
(2014)

Christina Venn
Sheboygan Falls Elementary School
Sheboygan Falls, WI
(2021)