At the age of eight, Les Paul began playing the harmonica.
After learning the piano, he switched to the guitar. During
this time he invented a neck-worn harmonica holder.

Les Paul (Lester William Polsfuss)
(June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009) 

Paul, was a jazz, country, and blues guitarist, songwriter, and
inventor. He was one of the pioneers of the solid-body electric
guitar, and his prototype, called the Log, served as inspiration
for the Gibson Les Paul. Paul taught himself how to play guitar,
and while he is mainly known for jazz and popular music, he
had an early career in country music. In the 1950s, he and his
wife, singer and guitarist Mary Ford, recorded numerous records,
selling millions of copies.

Paul is credited with many recording innovations. His early
experiments with overdubbing (also known as sound on
sound), delay effects such as tape delay, phasing, and
multitrack recording.          
         

His licks, trills, chording sequences, fretting techniques, and
timing set him apart from his contemporaries and inspired
many guitarists of the present day. (From Wikipedia)

      
      
      
      
      
     

Les (with wife, Mary Ford) in their home recording studio.

(WCYB) — Country music legend Dolly Parton has three new
awards to add to her lengthy list.

Parton, 77, was awarded with three new Guinness World
Records on Wednesday. Here are the new awards she
received:

• Longest span of No. 1 hits on the US Top Country Albums
  chart (female)
• Most studio albums released by a female country singer
• Most Top 10 entries on the US Top Country Albums chart
  (female)

Parton already had won seven Guinness World Records
previously. Those awards are:

• Most decades with a Top 20 hit on the US Hot Country
  Songs chart
• Most No.1 hits on the US Hot Country Songs chart by
  a female artist
• Most decades on the US Hot Country Songs chart
  (female)
• Most hits on the US Hot Country Songs chart by a
  female artist
• Longest span of No.1 hits on the US Hot Country Songs
  chart
• First country singer to be nominated for the EGOT
• Most Grammy nominations for a female country artist

Parton was quoted as saying…“I am humbled every time
I receive a new Guinness World Record title.”

William (Billy) Martin Joel is a singer, pianist, and songwriter. He
has had a successful career as a solo artist since the 1970s.

His 1985 compilation album, Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II,
is one of the best-selling albums in the United States.

Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr.
(November 17, 1938 – May 1, 2023)

Lightfoot died at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto 
at the age of 84. His declining health had caused him to cancel
his tour three weeks earlier.

In 2022, Gordon Lightfoot received the Golden Plate Award of
the American Academy of Achievement.              

    
Tim Bachman (left) founded Bachman-Turner Overdrive
with his brothers and Fred Turner.

Timothy Gregg Bachman (August 1, 1951 – April 28, 2023)

Tim Bachman, a founding guitarist of Bachman-Turner Overdrive
has died at the age of 71 after battling cancer.      

Tim’s death was confirmed by his brother Randy Bachman and
his son via social media.