Les Paul, American Music Master

It would be hard to overstate the influence Les Paul has had on rock music.

He literally invented the solid body electric guitar in 1941. Gibson's Les Paul model first appeared in 1952. It has been embraced by virtually every classic rock guitar god you can think of.

He also invented a playing style that made the most of the electric guitar's unique sound. He gave a then-five-year-old Steve Miller his first guitar lesson.

Les Paul also fathered the concept of recording and combining multiple, separate tracks that became a recording industry standard shortly after his first multitrack recording was released in 1947.

On November 10, Paul will receive the American Music Masters award from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in recognition of the ways in which he has changed America's culture through music.

Paul, who at age 93 still performs regularly at a New York City jazz club, hopes to attend the event. Watch for a group of A-list artists (not yet announced) performing at a tribute concert during a week of events in and around the Rock Hall in Cleveland.

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