History Highlight:

One hundred years ago today, guitarist Les Paul was born Lester William Polsfuss in Waukesha, Wis. An electric-guitar pioneer and the inventor of the Gibson Les Paul guitar, Paul was also at the vanguard of studio innovations such as multi-track recording, close placement of microphones and echo-delay recording. As an artist, Les Paul enjoyed moderate chart success, including the 1945 No. 1 single, "It's Been a Long, Long Time," performed by Bing Crosby and the Les Paul Trio; the 1953 No. 1 single "Vaya Con Dios"; and the 1955 No. 7 single, "Hummingbird." In 1948, Les Paul had broken his right arm in a car accident and had it set at an angle so he could still play guitar; the only other option at the time was amputation. Countless guitarists have played and recorded on the Gibson model that bears Paul's name, including Slash, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend and U2's the Edge. Paul died in a hospital in White Plains, N.Y., at the age of 94 on Aug. 13, 2009.

Also, Today In:

1964 - During an evening session Bob Dylan recorded "Mr. Tambourine Man" at Columbia Recording Studios in New York City.

1970 - Princeton University bestowed an honorary Doctorate of Music upon Bob Dylan.

1971 - Paul McCartney's second solo effort, Ram, was certified Gold.

1972 - Bruce Springsteen signed with Columbia Records and started to assemble the E Street Band from various former bandmates.

1978 - The Rolling Stones released Some Girls, their first studio album recorded with Ronnie Wood as a full member.

1984 - Cyndi Lauper started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Time After Time."

1990 - M.C. Hammer's debut album, Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em, started a record breaking 21-week stay at the top of the U.S. album charts, making it the longest uninterrupted stay at the top since the album charts started.

1990 - Wilson Phillips went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Hold On." Twenty-five years earlier to the day, Wendy and Carnie Wilson's father, Beach Boy Brian, had been at No. 1 with "Help Me, Rhonda."

1998 - The Ronettes appeared in the Supreme Court of New York for their lawsuit against producer Phil Spector. The Ronettes, whose hits included "Be My Baby" and "Walking In The Rain," claimed that Spector had breached the group's 34-year-old contract by paying the members no royalties since 1963.

Birthdays:

Soul singer Jackie Wilson was born on this day in 1934.

Chemical Brothers keyboardist Ed Simons is 45.

Matthew Bellamy of Muse is 37.

Related

• Gibson Les Paul Guitars