http://www.life.com/images/logo.png http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/32122/les-paul-legacy-of-a-guitar-hero http://www.life.com/image/3162287 Les Paul serenades his wife and singing partner Mary Ford in September 1952. In 1939, Paul -- unhappy with his acoustic guitar -- created a new, rudimentary electric design, which would pave the way for the rowdy rock & roll we know today. He sold his design to Gibson in the early '50s; everyone from Slash to the Edge to B.B. King has played the beloved "Les Paul" model. ]]> 3162287 Tue, 16 Sep 1952 03:00:00 EDT Les Paul serenades his wife and singing partner Mary Ford in September 1952. In 1939, Paul -- unhappy with his acoustic guitar -- created a new, rudimentary electric design, which would pave the way for the rowdy rock & roll we know today. He sold his design to Gibson in the early '50s; everyone from Slash to the Edge to B.B. King has played the beloved "Les Paul" model. ]]> Express 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/72430444 Peter Frampton, who now has his own signature Les Paul guitar, hangs out with the legend in 1981.]]> 72430444 Tue, 24 Nov 1981 03:00:00 EST Peter Frampton, who now has his own signature Les Paul guitar, hangs out with the legend in 1981.]]> DMI 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/71623974 Paul and Led Zeppelin's ax man play together in 1987. ]]> 71623974 Thu, 01 Jan 1987 03:00:00 EST Paul and Led Zeppelin's ax man play together in 1987. ]]> Albert Ferreira 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3204666 June 1989: Les Paul plays electric guitar on stage at a small nightclub in New York City. Though he made a huge impact on rock & roll, Paul himself was a jazz and pop player. ]]> 3204666 Mon, 26 Jun 1989 03:00:00 EDT June 1989: Les Paul plays electric guitar on stage at a small nightclub in New York City. Though he made a huge impact on rock & roll, Paul himself was a jazz and pop player. ]]> Tad Hershorn 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/81932990 The Guns N' Roses/Velvet Revolver guitarist meets the man who invented his guitars, 2001. ]]> 81932990 Mon, 13 Aug 2001 03:00:00 EDT The Guns N' Roses/Velvet Revolver guitarist meets the man who invented his guitars, 2001. ]]> RJ Capak 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/89770103 The Bon Jovi guitarist joins Les Paul onstage at the 33rd annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction in 2005. ]]> 89770103 Thu, 09 Jun 2005 03:00:00 EDT The Bon Jovi guitarist joins Les Paul onstage at the 33rd annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction in 2005. ]]> L. Busacca 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/57501874 At Coachella 2006, the pop icon whipped out her Les Paul. ]]> 57501874 Sun, 30 Apr 2006 03:00:00 EDT At Coachella 2006, the pop icon whipped out her Les Paul. ]]> Karl Walter 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/77927274 President George W. Bush presents Paul with the 2007 National Medal of Arts.]]> 77927274 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 03:00:00 EST President George W. Bush presents Paul with the 2007 National Medal of Arts.]]> MANDEL NGAN 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/53040082 In 2005, then-Sen. Obama poses with a Gibson Les Paul at the 12th annual Rock the Vote Awards. ]]> 53040082 Wed, 08 Jun 2005 03:00:00 EDT In 2005, then-Sen. Obama poses with a Gibson Les Paul at the 12th annual Rock the Vote Awards. ]]> Shaun Heasley 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/76684817 Sir Paul puts his signature on a 10-foot Gibson Les Paul sculpture in on display in London; it was eventually put up for auction for charity. ]]> 76684817 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 03:00:00 EDT Sir Paul puts his signature on a 10-foot Gibson Les Paul sculpture in on display in London; it was eventually put up for auction for charity. ]]> Dave Hogan 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/57588141 Moby performs in New York, 2006. ]]> 57588141 Thu, 11 May 2006 03:00:00 EDT Moby performs in New York, 2006. ]]> Evan Agostini 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/71509077 Jimmy Cliff performs at the Volvic Lovebox Weekender festival in London, July 2006. ]]> 71509077 Sun, 23 Jul 2006 03:00:00 EDT Jimmy Cliff performs at the Volvic Lovebox Weekender festival in London, July 2006. ]]> Jim Dyson 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/52374367 Bowie and his guitarist play a Les Paul together during Bowie's last appearance as Ziggy Stardust, at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, July 1973.]]> 52374367 Tue, 03 Jul 1973 03:00:00 EDT Bowie and his guitarist play a Les Paul together during Bowie's last appearance as Ziggy Stardust, at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, July 1973.]]> Debi Doss 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/71165683 Kenny Chesney plays his Gibson Les Paul on "Good Morning America." ]]> 71165683 Fri, 09 Jun 2006 03:00:00 EDT Kenny Chesney plays his Gibson Les Paul on "Good Morning America." ]]> Peter Kramer 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/81318931 The rock queen poses with Paul at the Icons of Music II Auction at New York's Hard Rock Cafe, May 2008. ]]> 81318931 Sat, 31 May 2008 03:00:00 EDT The rock queen poses with Paul at the Icons of Music II Auction at New York's Hard Rock Cafe, May 2008. ]]> Scott Wintrow 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/50980332 Kravitz performs on stage during the final day of the Heineken Jammin Festival in Imola, Italy, 2004. ]]> 50980332 Sun, 20 Jun 2004 03:00:00 EDT Kravitz performs on stage during the final day of the Heineken Jammin Festival in Imola, Italy, 2004. ]]> Giuseppe Cacace 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/1972016 Kirk Hammett plays a Les Paul on stage at the "mtvICON" tribute special for Metallica, 2003. ]]> 1972016 Sat, 03 May 2003 03:00:00 EDT Kirk Hammett plays a Les Paul on stage at the "mtvICON" tribute special for Metallica, 2003. ]]> Kevin Winter 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/52578538 Ted Nugent plays his Gibson Les Paul at "Rockin' the Corps: An American Thank You Celebration Concert" at Camp Pendleton, April 2005. ]]> 52578538 Fri, 01 Apr 2005 03:00:00 EST Ted Nugent plays his Gibson Les Paul at "Rockin' the Corps: An American Thank You Celebration Concert" at Camp Pendleton, April 2005. ]]> Kevin Winter 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/53362386 The country star performs on "Good Morning America," 2005. ]]> 53362386 Fri, 12 Aug 2005 03:00:00 EDT The country star performs on "Good Morning America," 2005. ]]> Paul Hawthorne 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/53100073 U2's The Edge strokes his Les Paul during the London stop of the band's "Vertigo" tour, June 2005. ]]> 53100073 Sat, 18 Jun 2005 03:00:00 EDT U2's The Edge strokes his Les Paul during the London stop of the band's "Vertigo" tour, June 2005. ]]> Jim Dyson 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/73699865 That's a Les Paul that Kevin Jonas (right, playing with little brother Nick) is wearing at the premiere of Disney's "Meet the Robinsons" in 2007. ]]> 73699865 Sun, 25 Mar 2007 03:00:00 EDT That's a Les Paul that Kevin Jonas (right, playing with little brother Nick) is wearing at the premiere of Disney's "Meet the Robinsons" in 2007. ]]> Kevin Winter 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/89770240 New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg holds a Les Paul guitar donated by Les Paul at a press conference in New York.]]> 89770240 Tue, 02 Apr 2002 03:00:00 EST New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg holds a Les Paul guitar donated by Les Paul at a press conference in New York.]]> TIM CLARY 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/89775873 A Les Paul is displayed at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City on Aug. 13, the day Paul died of compications from pneumonia. He was 94. ]]> 89775873 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:00:00 EDT A Les Paul is displayed at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City on Aug. 13, the day Paul died of compications from pneumonia. He was 94. ]]> Jemal Countess 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/76020010 The master in 1983.]]> 76020010 Sat, 01 Jan 1983 03:00:00 EST The master in 1983.]]> Chris Walter 2010 gettyImages.com