(Lester William Polfuss) (born 1916), U.S. musician and inventor of solid-body electric guitar (1947), making possible the sound of almost all popular music since, born in Waukesha, Wis.; also pioneered multitrack recording and overdubbing; played guitar and harmonica under pseudonym Rhubarb Red while a teenager; performed on Chicago radio programs, 1930s; formed Les Paul Trio, 1936; musical director of radio stations, 1940–43; entertainer for troops in Armed Forces Radio Service, 1943–46; began recording career with wife, singer Mary Ford, 1949; cohosted TV show Les Paul and Mary Ford at Home, 1950s; musical director of TV show Happy Days, 1970s; musical hits included ‘How High the Moon', ‘Vaya Con Dios', ‘Lover', ‘Brazil', ‘Nola', ‘Goofus', ‘Little Rock Getaway'; won Grammy Award (with Chet Atkins) for best country instrumental (‘Chester & Lester') 1976; named to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1988; wing of Smithsonian Institution, American Music Exhibit, dedicated to him.