Les Paul Legacy More Important than Michael Jackson’s?

Musicians worldwide are paying tribute to legendary guitar inventor Les Paul who died yesterday at 94, according to an Associated Press report.

Paul, an accomplished guitarist himself, invented the solid body guitar while searching for a particular sound, and was revered amongst the rock icons that benefited from his tireless tinkering.

“He actually taught himself to play guitar in order to demonstrate his electronic theories,” said Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards. “All of us owe an unimaginable debt to his work and his talent.” Kiss frontman Paul Stanley added: “The name Les Paul is iconic and is known by aspiring and virtuoso guitar players worldwide. That guitar is the cornerstone of a lot of great music that has been made in the last 50 years.”

According to the AP, Paul also developed technology that became hallmarks of rock and pop recordings, from multi-track recording that allowed for multiple layers of “overdubs” to guitar reverb and other sound effects.

MORE Les Paul: RIP Les Paul, Electric Guitar Innovator, 94
VIDEO: A Classic Performance by Les Paul and Mary Ford

A few famous players of Les Paul guitars:
Slash (Guns’n'Roses/Velvet Revolver)
Zakk Wyld (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society)
Joe Perry (Aerosmith)