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Longtime friend remembers legendary guitarist, recording innovator Les Paul
The flag sitting on top of Capitol Records is flying at half staff today in memory of Les Paul. He died Thursday in New York of complications of pneumonia. He was 94.
Paul developed an early solid body electric guitar and was the originator of multi-track music recording. Paul was also instrumental in the development of the Capitol label and its studios. Paul first signed with Capitol in 1948.
Recording engineer Al Schmitt knew Les Paul for decades and considered him an “uncle.” KPCC's Alex Cohen reached Schmitt at his home in the San Fernando Valley and asked him about the first time he met Les Paul.