Waukesha honors Les Paul; 110 years since "Wizard of Waukesha" born
Waukesha celebrates Les Paul
Waukesha is synonymous with his name – and starting on Thursday, June 5, the city will be celebrating 110 years since Les Paul was born.
WAUKESHA, Wis. - Waukesha is synonymous with his name – and starting on Thursday, June 5, the city will be celebrating 110 years since Les Paul was born.
Remembering Les Paul
What we know:
June 9, 2025 marks 110 years since the birth of the "Wizard of Waukesha." After breaking out as an early radio star, Les Paul is best known for inventing the solid-body electric guitar.
Les Paul
Sue Baker is with the Les Paul Foundation. The organization helped plan events throughout the month to honor Paul's legacy.
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What they're saying:
"It is much more than that. Les invented so many of what the recording industry uses today," Baker said.
Baker also just published a booklet about her friendship with Paul. It is packed with rare photos and is for sale at the Waukesha County Historical Society and Museum.
Exhibits at the Waukesha County Historical Society and Museum will be free on Saturday, June 7. The following weekend, Discovery World in Milwaukee will offer discussions and a DIY guitar project at its "Les Paul House of Sound" exhibit.
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Paul died in 2009, but you cannot visit Waukesha without seeing his accomplishments on display.
Events honoring Les Paul
Thursday, June 5th 6pm- 7pm, Les Paul’s Virtual Birthday
Educators are invited to participate in this online session, which includes trivia, fun, and music. The session is facilitated by Les Paul Foundation’s Education Coordinator Julie Palkowski. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/yc235eff.
Friday, June 6th, 6:30pm – 9pm, Friday Night Live, Main Street in Downtown Waukesha. Free.
Visit the booth for the Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum to learn more about Les Paul and the other exhibits, the Research Center and the many programs offered at the museum.
Saturday, June 7th 10am – 4pm, Free Day at the Museum, Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum, 101 W. Main St., Waukesha
Explore the immersive Les Paul exhibit about the man whose sound changed the world. From his beginnings in his "Living Room Laboratory" experimenting with his mother’s player piano to perfecting what would become the Gibson Les Paul solid body electric guitar, the exhibit explores the innovative and tenacious spirit of Les.
Throughout the day, the museum staff will demonstrate the Les Paulverizer and Log re-creations made by Dr. VJ Manzo and his students from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. Visitors are invited to take free Les Paul Maker Kits to explore how sound works.
Tuesday, June 10th, 11:30 am-12:30pm, Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum, 101 W. Main St., Waukesha, Lunch and Learn: Behind the Scenes with Les Paul
Meet the Wizard of Waukesha through stories from his friend Sue Baker, the Program Director for the Les Paul Foundation. Glimpse the musician, inventor, father, husband, the boy who chased sound right up to and beyond 36 gold records and invented today’s recording techniques. Throughout his decades of fame, Les Paul wanted the world to know his hometown was Waukesha, Wisconsin. This is your chance to learn about the city’s famous son. Tickets are available at: https://waukeshacountymuseum.org/events/
Saturday, June 14th, 9am-4pm, Discovery World, 500 Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, Hands-on Activities Celebrate the Wizard of Waukesha inside Les Paul’s House of Sound! Join Civic Music MKE, Girls Rock MKE, Kaltron Synthesizers to follow Les’ story from his humble beginnings in Wisconsin to his travels around the world. Stop by the Les Paul House of Sound exhibit between 11am - 1pm to participate in an activity exploring sound, music, and design, facilitated by Les Paul Foundation’s Education Coordinator, Julie Palkowski. Create your very own DIY Guitar project in the Kohl’s Design It! Lab. Included in price of admission. No registration required.
Sunday, June 15th, 11am – 1pm, Discovery World, 500 Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, Guided Tours of the Les Paul House of Sound.
Tour the Les Paul House of Sound with Les Paul’s friend Sue Baker, Program Director for the Les Paul Foundation in New York. Hear stories and learn trivia from someone who heard the tales from the Wizard himself. Tours will be at 11 am, 12pm and 1pm. And don’t miss special interactive workshops hosted by First Stage! Included with price of admission. No registration required.
Tuesday, June 17th, 10 am -12pm Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum, 101 W. Main St., Waukesha. Morning at the Museum, an event for educators. A tour of the Les Paul Experience will focus on reinforcing classroom studies. Free classroom resources for educators. Snacks. Register by June 10 at: https://events.humanitix.com/les-paul-s-morning-at-the-museum/tickets.
Related: GuitarforLifeStudio.com
The Source: The information in this post was produced by FOX6 News and provided, in part, by the Waukesha County Historical Society and Museum.