Les Paul

Les Paul 1916-, American guitarist and inventor, b. Waukesha, Wis., as Lester William Polfus. He began playing country music at 14, later switched to jazz, and started his own trio in 1936. Considered one of the finest jazz guitarists, he is famous for his amazing versatility. Dissatisfied with the sound of available instruments, Paul invented (1941) a solid-body electric guitar. Marketed (1951) by Gibson, it was extremely important in the development of rock music and was played by many of its greatest stars. Several versions of his prized guitars are still manufactured. Paul also created techniques in his home studio that allowed him to overdub numerous tracks, producing the distinctive sound of Les Paul and Mary Ford (his wife) in such 1950s hits as "Vaya Con Dios" and "How High the Moon." The multitrack recording originated by Paul has since been widely used to make popular recordings. He also invented the eight-track tape recorder and made important innovations in reverb and other areas of studio methodology. Paul was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

Automatistes, Les. A radical group of seven Canadian abstract painters active in Montreal from 1946 to 1951. The oldest of them, mainly responsible for the formation of the group, was Paul-Émile Borduas, and the other outstanding member was Jean-Paul Riopelle. Members of the group were influenced by the Surrealists, from whom they took over their techniques of automatism. Their first exhibition, in 1946, was the first exhibition by a group of abstract painters to be held in Canada. In 1948 they caused outrage by publishing Refus global (Total Refusal), an anarchistic manifesto attacking various aspects of Canadian life and culture, including the Church.

Automatistes, Les A radical group of seven Canadian abstract painters active in Montreal from 1946 to 1951. The oldest of them, mainly responsible for the formation of the group, was Paul-Émile Borduas, and the other outstanding member was Jean-Paul Riopelle. Members of the group were influenced by the Surrealists, from whom they took over their techniques of automatism. Their initial show, in 1946, was the first exhibition by a group of abstract painters to be held in Canada. In 1948 they caused outrage by publishing Refus global (‘Total Refusal’), an anarchistic manifesto attacking various aspects of Canadian life and culture, including the Church.