Les Paul was born 107 years ago on June 9, 1915, and each June we celebrate this legendary artist who did so much to change the face of music. Known for creating the solid body electric guitar and innovations in recording music, Les was not only a musician but also an accomplished inventor who could not stop tinkering with instruments, tools, and sounds to satisfy his curiosity about the world at large.

Since 2014 the Les Paul Foundation has funded six Emerging Research Grants on tinnitus, deepening our understanding of its causes as well as improving diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Here is a compilation of stories we’ve done over the years about Les Paul’s connection to hearing loss and tinnitus.

• HHF announces our partnership with the Les Paul Foundation.

• Les Paul often said he learned everything he needed to know while growing up in Waukesha. 

• Banding together with H.E.A.R., MusiCares, and the Les Paul Foundation to raise awareness of noise-induced hearing damage.

• From his earliest days, the concept of sound consumed musician and inventor Les Paul. 

• The inventor who changed music wore hearing aids. 

• Although Les Paul’s hearing loss was not caused by loud noise, he and most of his musician friends also had tinnitus.

• How Les Paul went from a $3.95 guitar to the solid body electric guitar.

• Even when he was a preschooler, Les Paul’s mother recognized and nurtured his talent.

Meet Our Researchers Generously Funded by the Les Paul Foundation

2015: Xiping Zhan, Ph.D. 

2016: Julia Campbell, Au.D., Ph.D. 

2017: Timothy Balmer, Ph.D.

2018: Tenzin Ngodup, Ph.D.

2019: Micheal Dent, Ph.D.

2020: Calvin Wu, Ph.D.

Hearing Health Foundation is truly grateful for the ongoing support of the Les Paul Foundation for research in the area of tinnitus.

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