By Sue Baker
Music legend Les Paul—known for the solid body electric guitar and inventing revolutionary recording techniques that are still used today—had hearing loss in both ears, among many challenges.
Les Paul in a photo from 2003.
Born on June 9, 1915, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Les Paul was intrigued with sound, starting from a young age. From noticing the different sounds he could make sitting on the kitchen floor and banging on various pots and pans to listening to his mother play soul-filled melodies on her piano, it was always all about sound for Lester, as his mother called him.
When he was in his 50s, one of his friends accidentally hit Les on his ear, damaging his eardrum, which resulted in an infection and compromised hearing. Just a few years later a different friend did the same thing to his other ear.
The wizard of sound had his hearing permanently damaged, even after multiple surgeries trying to correct the condition.
Les was not particularly “lucky.” In fact, he had more than his share of challenges, but he was also determined. Nothing was going to prevent him from attaining his goals. He had to adapt to many circumstances, but he kept focused on what he wanted to do even when it took years to reach his goal.
In this photo from 1949, the stand Les Paul used to help him hold his guitar is visible. A friend fashioned the stand because Les’s torso and right arm were in a cast, due to a car accident that nearly took his life.
In his 20s Les received a powerful electrical shock that severely damaged his hands. This happened at the time he was performing professionally in New York City.
The doctors told him he would never play his guitar again, but Les didn’t accept their dire prognosis. He was determined to face the challenge and to return to his love for playing his guitar. It took two years for his hands to heal and once again Les was performing professionally.
A horrific car accident when Les was in his 30s almost ended his life, but again his perseverance prevailed. The long recovery was painful. Les confessed that at times he wanted to give up, but his determination to play his guitar again kept him focused on healing.
When Capitol Records wanted Les to produce more recordings, he was in a torso cast with his right arm set at a 90-degree angle. There was no way he could hold a guitar.
Les directed a friend to reshape a guitar stand so he could play his guitar even while in the cast. If you look closely at the black and white photo (left), you can see Les in the cast and the reconfigured guitar stand holding his guitar.
Despite multiple challenges, Les Paul persevered. He persisted to refine the design for a solid body electric guitar, create multiple gold records, invent today’s recording techniques, be inducted into multiple halls of fame, and play his guitar until two months before he died at 94 years old in August 2009.
As Les says, “Set your sights on where you want to go in life. Make up your mind you’re going to do it no matter what and more than not, you’ll get there.”
Sue Baker is the program director for the Les Paul Foundation. They are celebrating Les Paul’s 110th birthday with this quiz and video about his life and legacy, among other activities.
HHF is very grateful to the Les Paul Foundation for their longtime support of tinnitus research through our Emerging Research Grants program.
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