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      Les Paul: Guitar Wizard

      $12.95
      Paperback: $12.95
      112 pages, 60 b/w photos, and 5 maps, 7 x 9
      ISBN:9780870204883

      Published by Wisconsin Historical Society Press

      Ordering for retail, wholesale, school, library, or other tax-exempt organization?
      SKU: 9780870204883
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      By Bob Jacobson

      This addition to the Badger Biographies series for young readers tells the story of Les Paul, the legendary "Wizard of Waukesha,” who pioneered the solid body electric guitar, multi-track recording, and many other musical inventions. Fascinated since boyhood with musical technology, the young Les moved from experimenting with his mother’s player piano and phonograph to developing his own amplifier and tinkering with crystal radios.

      After leaving his hometown of Waukesha at age 17 to pursue a musical career—a decision his mother supported—the budding jazz guitarist lived in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, in each city finding a new audience and new musical partnerships. A regular on the radio, Les became a fixture in early television, appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show, and later, a show of his own with his wife and partner Mary Ford. Along the way, he overcame numerous physical challenges, including recovery from electric shock and rehabilitation after a horrific car accident—both of which threatened his musical career. And yet, Les Paul pushed musical technology forward more than any other musician of the twentieth century.

      This Grammy Hall of Fame inductee died in 2009, making "Les Paul: Guitar Wizard” a timely addition to the series. This lively story is rounded out with sidebars on radio call letters and how an electric guitar works, a full discography, and more than 60 historic photographs.

      By Bob Jacobson

      This addition to the Badger Biographies series for young readers tells the story of Les Paul, the legendary "Wizard of Waukesha,” who pioneered the solid body electric guitar, multi-track recording, and many other musical inventions. Fascinated since boyhood with musical technology, the young Les moved from experimenting with his mother’s player piano and phonograph to developing his own amplifier and tinkering with crystal radios.

      After leaving his hometown of Waukesha at age 17 to pursue a musical career—a decision his mother supported—the budding jazz guitarist lived in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, in each city finding a new audience and new musical partnerships. A regular on the radio, Les became a fixture in early television, appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show, and later, a show of his own with his wife and partner Mary Ford. Along the way, he overcame numerous physical challenges, including recovery from electric shock and rehabilitation after a horrific car accident—both of which threatened his musical career. And yet, Les Paul pushed musical technology forward more than any other musician of the twentieth century.

      This Grammy Hall of Fame inductee died in 2009, making "Les Paul: Guitar Wizard” a timely addition to the series. This lively story is rounded out with sidebars on radio call letters and how an electric guitar works, a full discography, and more than 60 historic photographs.

      Products specifications
      Details
      PublisherWisconsin Historical Society Press
      ISBN Number

      978-0-87020-488-3

      Publication Year2012
      Page Count112
      Illustrations
      Format/BindingPaperback
      Trim Size7 x 9 inches

      Tax-exempt orders cannot be placed in the WHS online store, shop.wisconsinhistory.org, at this time. Tax-exempt organizations can order Society Press books through the Chicago Distribution Center. Please contact them directly to create a tax exempt account and place orders:

      Wisconsin Historical Society Press
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      Chicago, IL 60628-3830

      (800) 621-2736
      custserv@press.uchicago.edu
      fax: (800) 621-8476 or (800) 702-7212

      Find more information about ordering WHS Press books, for schools, libraries, and retail/wholesale. Ordering WHS Press Books

      Wisconsin Historical Society Press books ship from the Chicago Distribution Center. (800) 621-2736, custserv@press.uchicago.edu.

      When ordered with gifts, apparel, historic images, and other items in the online store, WHS Press books ship separately. Additional shipping is charged when orders contain items that ship from multiple locations.

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      Products specifications
      Details
      PublisherWisconsin Historical Society Press
      ISBN Number

      978-0-87020-488-3

      Publication Year2012
      Page Count112
      Illustrations
      Format/BindingPaperback
      Trim Size7 x 9 inches
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