WAUKESHA, Wis. — Music legend Les Paul discovered his penchant for guitar at Waukesha Junior High. It’s where his teachers recognized his curious nature, answering never-ending questions like how electricity got to light switches or why windows vibrated.

Now school officials hope Paul’s inspiration and innovative spirit rub off on current students. They’ve renamed the suburban Milwaukee school after the country and jazz guitarist, who also developed technology and recording techniques that set the standard in the music industry.

Additional Images

Young Lester Polfuss, who became known as Les Paul, was an accomplished musician from the get-go. AP Photo/Les Paul Foundation

Principal Rob Bennett said it seems to be working: Paul and his innovations, like the solid bodied electric guitar, come up often.

“You can kind of see that ‘ah ha’ moment for them of, ‘It could be me, I could be that next person.’ ” Bennett said ahead of a dedication ceremony Saturday.

Born Lester William Polfuss in 1915, Paul built his first crystal radio at age 9, around the time he first picked up a guitar. Playing it came quickly for Paul, and he performed on the school stage.

He went on to develop tape echo, multitrack recording and overdubs. He was even working on improving hearing aid technology when he died in 2009, at the age of 94.

His son, Rusty Paul, and longtime business manager Michael Braunstein said Waukesha mattered to Les Paul. He insisted on being buried there even though he lived in New Jersey.

“He would be blown away that the fact his hometown thought so much of him that they would this,” said Braunstein, the executive director of the Les Paul Foundation.

Related Stories