- Inventor of the solid body electric guitar, the first multi-track tape recorder, a guitar-driven synthesizer and other electronic devices.
- His first electrified guitar was made by placing the tonearm of a record player into the back of an acoustic guitar.
- His customized "Les Paul Gibson" guitars sell retail for up to several thousand dollars, depending on condition and customization.
- He never learned to read sheet music.
- Elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (under the category Early Influences) in 1988.
- "How High the Moon", a single he recorded with his wife Mary Ford, was the first pop song ever made with multi-track recording.
- Inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2005 for the solid-body electric guitar.
- He was inducted into the 2010 New Jersey Hall of Fame for his services to Historical Contributions.
- Pioneer of electronic music.
- His first solid-body electric guitar was built using a section of a railroad tie as the base. He jokingly referred to it as "the log", and designed two small decorative pieces to place on it to make it look more like an acoustic guitar.
- Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1990.
- Once built a home-made record turntable using a Cadillac V8 flywheel and a dental drill motor.
- He was awarded the 2007 National Medal of the Arts for his services to music in Washington D.C.
- Lost several bones in his right elbow in an automobile accident. His right arm was permanently mounted in a manner that permitted him to play a guitar.
- Lived in New York City.
- Mary Ford and Les Paul were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1541 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
- Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame alongside Mary Ford in 1978.
- A baby daughter--born prematurely in 1954--died four days after her birth.
- Godfather of rock star Steve Miller.
- The two witnesses at Les Paul's Wedding to Mary Ford were Dr. George and Bertha Miller, parents of future rock star Steve Miller.
- Served in the United States Army during World War 2. He was assigned to the Armed Forces Radio Network where he worked with Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters.
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