Guitar Genius

This picture book biography chronicles the life of musician and inventor Les Paul, focusing on his childhood and the development of the solid-body electric guitar. It follows his early fascination with sound, from tinkering with his mother's player piano to creating a harmonica holder from a coat hanger. The narrative highlights his persistent experimentation, including his attempts to amplify his guitar using a telephone receiver and a record player's needle. Key events include his multiple (non-fatal) electrocutions, the creation of his first successful prototype called "The Log," and the initial rejection he faced from manufacturers before his ideas ultimately transformed popular music.