Les Paul was an American jazz, country, and blues guitarist, songwriter, luthier, and inventor. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential electric guitarists in music history. He is credited with inventing the solid-body electric guitar, which made the sound of rock and roll possible. He also pioneered multi-track recording and overdubbing, which allowed for more complex musical arrangements. His innovative approach to guitar playing and recording techniques have been highly influential on generations of musicians.