The Google Les Paul Doodle

Yesterday, while I am doing some Google searches for an article I am writing, I have noticed a new Google Doodle on the main page of the search engine. It looks like a guitar with strings and they sound when you hit them with the mouse.

I am both amused and amazed. Amused because it is fun playing with the strings; creating crazy sounds is entertaining especially for a musician like me. Amazed because of the program and codes that the creators have used to create the doodle is astounding.

It intrigues me though as to what it is all about so I have clicked on the image and have waited to see where the page would lead me. It opens a new page for search, which lists down news for Les Paul. “Who is Les Paul?” I asked myself. The next thing I have done is to look for information about Les Paul.

I have learned that Google has put up the doodle to celebrate the 96th birthday of the country and jazz guitarist, songwriter and inventor Les Paul or Lester William Polsfuss. He is also known for his playing style, which involve licks, trills, chording sequences, fretting techniques and timing, which set him apart from his contemporaries and inspired many guitarists of the present day. He recorded with his wife Mary Ford in the 1950s, and they sold millions of records (wikipedia).

Gibson Le Paul

At age 90, he has won two Grammy Awards at the 48^th Annual Grammy Awards for his album Les Paul & Friends: American Made World Played.

Perhaps, the music world would remember him as a guitar builder. The “Gibson Les Paul” guitar has been named after him. Great artists like Eric Clapton no less plays Gibson Les Paul. Up to now, professionals and beginners around the world are using Gibson Les Paul.

Les Paul has died in 2009 from complications of Pneumonia.

Images above courtesy of:

Wikipedia.org

Google Doodle Image from:

http://news.cnet.com/