Les Paul returns home for benefit

Waukesha, Wis. -- Les Paul, the man instrumental in the development of the electric guitar, returned to his hometown of Waukesha, Wis., after a nearly two-decade absence.

Paul performed Wednesday in a $300-a-ticket concert to raise money for the Les Paul Experience exhibit planned by the Waukesha County Historical Society and Museum, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

In the 1940s, Paul was an innovator in the design and development of the solid-body electric guitar, which became the instrument of choice for two generations of rock and jazz musicians.

His biggest contribution, however, is one for which he's least known: introduction of the multitrack recording technique, which revolutionized modern music, the newspaper said.

At 91, Paul is still a working musician, performing every Monday night with his trio at the Iridium nightclub in Manhattan. Plans are in the works for Paul to record three albums as well, one country, one jazz and one blues.

"Working gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning," Paul said. "I look at other people my age, and they're not like I am. It's still fun to play for the people."

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.