This month, C4IP is recognizing Les Paul, whose invention of the solid-body electric guitar revolutionized the sound of popular music.
- Paul was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1915, and established himself as a successful jazz and country musician before applying that experience to develop the invention for which he is best known: the solid-body electric guitar, which he received a patent for in 1962.
- An innovator by nature, Paul is also credited with inventing the first eight-track tape recorder.
- Paul’s guitar was adopted by rock and roll pioneers like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, who have since become some of the best-selling music artists of all time.
- It also laid the foundation for the rock music genre, which remains the most popular genre of music in the United States in terms of listenership.
- Paul’s invention remains a staple for musicians today: In 2022, the global market for electric guitars was valued at nearly $4.5 billion.
- Electric guitars are more popular than other types, making up an estimated 58% of all guitar sales in the United States.
- It is also the #1 instrument children are interested in learning to play, according to a 2022 report in Newsweek.