The Les Paul Foundation was pleased to have helped the Wisconsin Historical Society Press create the newest book about Les Paul.

Les Paul: Guitar Wizard offers 112-pages aimed at young readers while also providing a quick read for anyone looking for an accurate synopsis about the Father of the Electric Guitar.
There are great musicians and there are great inventors. Les Paul: Guitar Wizard unfolds the story of Lester Polsfuss, the boy from Waukesha who became both. The book hits the high points of Lester’s evolution to become Les Paul, the man who changed how music sounds today.

Les Paul’s curiosity drove him to chase the perfect sound throughout his life. His lightening guitar playing and his revolutionary recording techniques culminated in multiple gold records and other honors.

The book glimpses at the wizard’s way of thinking, how he identified what he wanted to do, the challenges that he faced and how his relentless drive led him to achieving his goals. Photographs, maps and illustrations punctuate the story, showing the scope of Les’ adventures and his persistent quest for improving the sound he could create.

The reader travels through Les’ childhood days of experiments with creating a solid-body guitar to his days as one of the earliest radio and television performers. Les creates award-winning recordings while developing multiple recording techniques that are used by most recording artists today.

The 7” x 9” paperback book contains a timeline, a list of Les’ better-known recordings and a glossary for young readers. Illustrations and sidebars explain such things as the basics of a crystal radio and an electric guitar.

Author Bob Jacobson, is a Wisconsin musician and author. The book is part of the Badger Biographies Series published by the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Books can be ordered from The Wisconsin Historical Society.