London, Aug 14 - Guitar legend Les Paul has died after losing his battle to pneumonia at a New York hospital. He was 94.

Paul died Thursday, reported thesun.co.uk.

In 1941, he had invented the solid-body electric guitar and pioneered multi-track recording -- both key to the birth of rock music.

His classic Gibson Les Paul six-string was the chosen instrument of guitar greats like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Pete Townshend.

Twice-divorced Paul, born in Wisconsin, had 11 US number ones with wife Mary Ford on vocals. Both were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1978.

'He was so vibrant -- a shining example of how full one's life can be,' said Slash, former Guns 'N Roses lead guitarist.