It would take a thick book to list all of Les Paul's contributions to the art of performing and recording music. He was a pioneer in multi-track recording, guitar design and electronic sounds...not to even mention his incredible playing. I had the honor of sitting in with Les Paul one night in New York and it well be an experience I'll always treasure. The music industry at large owes him a great debt of gratitude.

~Charlie Daniels~

Les was known by most people because of his name being on the headstock of one of the most iconic guitars ever made. But to musicians, record producers, sound engineers, and industry people alike, he was a pioneer of sound and recording. I’m grateful to him for all of his contributions to our craft. He will be missed sorely.

~Bo Bice~

I got my first Gold Top Les Paul in ’68 and still play it today. I got to meet him in late seventy while touring with ZZ Top. He was a very nice man. If I could choose between the invention of the internet and cell phones or Les Pauls and multi-track recording…..it would obviously be the latter.

~Jay Boy Adams~

If not for Les Paul where would we be now? We all give thanks to the genius in innovation given to us by him. RIP Les.

~Jim Wagner - WCR Pickups~

I don’t remember ever meeting the man, but as a child I do remember listening to Les Paul and Mary Ford 45’s on the family record player and thinking how great he was. He will be missed.

~Donnie Winters - Winters Brothers Band~

Not being a Les Paul player, I don't have much to contribute. I always wanted to make it big playing a Les Paul...ended up trading mine for a Stratocaster. Good move. But it's fair to say that without Les Paul, I would've been an empty man without music. I always give Leo a big thanks...but, truth be told, Les should get a BIGGER one.

~Ed King~

A true innovator, without which none of us would be able to do what we do today…..

~Rick Willis - Marshall Tucker Band~

Growing up around music, some of my earliest memories are of Gibson Les Paul guitars. My Dad always played them, and they were always interesting to me. I was always captured by Toy Caldwell as well and he played a Les Paul a lot. Later as I began playing and getting more involved in music, I found that the Gibson Les Paul was by all means an instrument of extremely high regard among musicians of all ability, age and genre. A lot of the guitar players that really sparked my interest in my most developmental stages played Les Pauls. We continue to see Gibson Les Paul guitars and Les Paul style guitars in the hands of many musicians representing many different genres to this day. Amazing innovations stand the test of time.

As I learned more about Les Paul and his creativeness I started to appreciate not only the guitar bearing his signature, but his contributions to the world of music as we know it. However, I must admit the more I learned about him the more I found myself thinking, man, I didn't know he did that. Other things that I liked the sound of, such as effects, etc. were innovations or at minimum influences of Les Paul. He’s credited with being the creator of muti track recording, and many effects that are household names among musicians even to this day. How amazing is that? The man started his work on the solid body guitar in the 1930’s, if I’m not mistaken. Still to this day the Les Paul design is in the hands of many musicians, collectors, luthiers, and fans. Rarely does a visionary like Les Paul come along. Fortunately for us, he came along in our lifetime and left us with a legacy of tools and innovations that will surely influence and play a role in yet another generation of musicians.

RIP Les Paul, a true innovator and visionary of our craft.

~Justin McCorkle - Southern Boys Band~

What can you say about a man to whom we owe so very much? As any guitarist will tell you he was the father of the solid body electric guitar. But, what many don’t know is that he is the creator of multi-track recording and many of the effects we still use today. Les also had a string of hits with his wife Mary Ford. On a personal note -- Les Paul has always been one of my greatest heroes! The Man did it all and we would not have any of the music we have today without him. As far as I am concerned the man deserves to be in EVERY music Hall of Fame in existence!!! Rest in Peace Les!!

~Bruce Wall - Southern Music Alliance~

I am a guitar player that has never played a guitar that melts one's heart. I own a late model Epiphone Les Paul Special and she is my best friend. A solid body that rocks! Les was so innovative and came up with a guitar that almost all rockers, blues and jazz players loved. There was tension with Gibson and Epiphone but Les kept working and he made sure his guitars were there. Gibson and Epiphone stole other's secrets, but they were still Les Paul's guitars. They became massed produced at a point but still had the pickups and sweet sound. Leo Fender had the ear and didn't want to be outdone.

One should check out this documentary at www.solidbodiesthemovie.com. Many gutarist that are are on both sides of the fence for a solid body guitar. It tells the story.

There is a lot to admire about Les Paul. Hit songwriter would be a nice title, but when you add to that... stellar guitarist, arranger, producer, engineer, inventor, and all around good guy... who liked people, and one whom people liked to be around, you must be talking about Les Paul. Les was more...way more than most of us will ever be...and he followed his dream, his intuition, and his ears (including the radio in his head that was playing all these previously unheard sounds). He outlived his women, which is rare in our society and I have to think playing guitar was part of his longevity equation. Thanks a million Les!

~Rick"Guitarfreak" Brannon~

His invention of the electric guitar and multi-track recording make him the Thomas Edison of Rock and Roll. He will be missed!!

~Tara Novik - John Corbett Band~

Meeting Les Paul was Awesome. He was very nice and easy to talk with. He loved hearing Les Paul Guitar stories. At least he acted like he liked to hear mine. I showed him my Voodoo Moon album and he said, "Wow what a beautiful Guitar that one is." So i am sure he still loved the beauty of these things. I believe that the Les Paul is the Best Rock guitar ever made. Hands down. I own 8 les pauls now. They are all different. Some with Humbuckings and some with P-90's. To me they all have a different sound. I used them on the new John Mayall album. My '59 Reissue Historic. Great guitar. I use a Strat a lot now but actually believe that the Paul is the most well made intrsument there is. No other sound like the Paul.

~Rocky Athas~

Rocky's Les Pauls