Musician, Inventor. He gained fame starting in the mid-20th century as an American musician who was a pioneer in the solid-body electric guitar, singing, playing the piano and harmonica, and being a songwriter. Born Lester William Polsfuss, he was a self-taught musician who significantly impacted the birth of rock 'n roll music. During World War II, he was drafted in 1943, serving as part of the Armed Forces Radio Network. In January of 1948, during a raging storm, he was involved in a near-fatal auto accident, which seriously damaged his right elbow and arm. The arm was not amputated but set frozen at an angle that would allow him to cradle his guitar and play. His back, collarbones, shoulder, and six ribs were broken. After an eighteen-month recuperation, this disability did not stop his career. Paul's career spanned from country music to popular music to jazz. He is the only person to be inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which was in 1988 and the National Inventors Hall of Fame, which was in 2005. Les Paul forever changed the recording industry with his innovations of multitrack recording, overdubbing, electronic reverb, guitar effects, phase shifting, and more. His new recording techniques continue to be used by musicians into the 21st century. Having his name on one of the world's best-known electric guitars, the Gibson Les Paul recognizes his innovations in developing the solid body electric guitar. The Les Paul guitar, introduced by the Gibson Guitar Company in 1952, is considered the rock musician's definitive guitar. On December 29, 1949, he married for a second time to a young singer, Colleen Summers, who changed her name to Mary Ford. Besides his two sons from his first marriage, the couple had three children. With wife Mary, Les Paul was a television and radio star in the early 1950s. Their television show ran from 1953 to 1960. Starting on April 21, 1951, and remaining for nine weeks, his and Mary's recording of "How High the Moon" coveted the #1 Billboard Hit spot and earned a Gold Record with over one million records being sold. He received 36 Gold Record during his career. Starting on August 8, 1953, and remaining for eleven weeks, their recording of "Vaya Con Dios" was a #1 Billboard Hit and earned a Gold Record. In 1960, the couple received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. As their career together declined, he and his wife Mary divorced in December of 1964, ending their professional collaboration. Among his long list of accolades, he received the 1976 Grammy for Best Country Instrumental for "Chester & Lester" and, in the same year, shared the Country Music Awards as Top New Instrumental Group or Duo with Chet Atkins. He received several Lifetime Awards, including the Grammy Award in 1984 and the Emmy Award for Engineering in 2004. In 2009, he and Mary were inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame. Paul died from the complication of pneumonia. At his request, Paul is buried next to his mother. His father and other relatives are buried elsewhere in Prairie Home Cemetery.