Guitar Genius

This is the story of how Les Paul created the world's first solid- body electric guitar, countless other inventions that changed modern music, and one truly epic career in rock and roll. How to make a microphone? A broomstick, a cinderblock, a telephone, a radio. How to make an electric guitar? A record player's arm, a speaker, some tape. How to make a legendary inventor? A few tools, a lot of curiosity, and an endless faith in what is possible. Featuring richly detailed, dynamic illustrations by Brett Helquist, this unforgettable biography will resonate with inventive readers young and old.

This is the story of how Les Paul created the world's first solid- body electric guitar, countless other inventions that changed modern music, and one truly epic career in rock and roll. How to make a microphone? A broomstick, a cinderblock, a telephone, a radio. How to make an electric guitar? A record player's arm, a speaker, some tape. How to make a legendary inventor? A few tools, a lot of curiosity, and an endless faith in what is possible. Featuring richly detailed, dynamic illustrations by Brett Helquist, this unforgettable biography will resonate with inventive readers young and old.

Introduce your readers to one of the most prolific musicians of all time. Les Paul was an American jazz, country and blues guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was the inventor of the electric guitar which made the sound of rock and roll possible. He is also credited with many recording innovations. Although he was not the first to use the technique, his early experiments with recording sound on sound, and changing speeds were among the first to attract widespread attention.

An intimate portrait of the brilliant jazz guitarist responsible for bringing jazz guitar playing to a new level but whose extraordinary talent was eclipsed by such greats as George Benson details his battle with racial and religious barriers, drug addiction, and fame. IP.

Whether it is a beautiful and classic model or an unglamorous and inexpensive starter instrument, a musician's first guitar can be the catalyst that motivates a lifelong passion. The pages of this book contain interviews with 70 of the world's most well-known guitarists across musical genres and playing styles to discover how their love of the instrument compelled them to pursue music as a career. These guitar icons reveal how they got their first instrument, the music they loved, and their heroes and inspirations. With an impressive list of subjectsincluding Dick Dale, Melissa Etheridge, Jimmy Page, Les Paul, and Carlos Santanaas well as childhood photos from such guitar legends as Alex Lifeson, Joe Satriani, and Jimmie Vaughan, this book has appeal for guitar heroes and nonmusicians alike.

"An exuberant introduction to a musician and creative genius." –Kirkus Reviews A beautifully-illustrated true story of rock and roll legend Les Paul: This is the story of how Les Paul created the world's first solid-body electric guitar, countless other inventions that changed modern music, and one truly epic career in rock and roll. How to make a microphone? A broomstick, a cinderblock, a telephone, a radio. How to make an electric guitar? A record player's arm, a speaker, some tape. How to make a legendary inventor? A few tools, a lot of curiosity, and an endless faith in what is possible, this unforgettable biography will resonate with inventive readers young and old. Perfect for young readers and rock and roll enthusiasts alike. Unforgettable biography that will resonate with inventive readers young and old. Featuring richly detailed, dynamic illustrations by Brett Helquist, the New York Times bestselling illustrator of many books, including the Lemony Snicket books, A Series of Unfortunate Events. "Les Paul was an innovator and musical force for the ages - he changed the world in a very real way. His story is a lesson from which kids of all ages can derive inspiration." –Billy Gibbons, lead guitarist of ZZ Top. This inspiring true story of rock and roll legend Les Paul teaches lessons of perseverance, overcoming obstacles, and following your dreams. Perfect read aloud book for family story time Books for kids ages 5-8 Great book for STEM programs Children's books for grades K-3

Describes how the entertainer invented the sound-on-sound recording style and developed one of the most famous brands of electric guitar.

"Breau's astonishing virtuosity influenced countless performers, but unfortunately it came at the expense of his personal relationships and happiness. When he was found dead in his apartment building's pool in 1984, police suspected his wife, but no one has ever been charged. Despite Breau's fascinating life story and his musical importance, however, no full-length biography has yet been published - until now. Forbes-Roberts has interviewed more than 200 people, including family members, fellow musicians, and the luthiers who created his instruments, and closely analyzed his recordings. The result is a detailed biography that sheds light on all areas of Breau's fascinating life with a particular emphasis on his evolution as a musician."--Jacket.