He invented the solid body electric guitar and multi track recording devices. He was quite an accomplished musician and inventor who played pretty much until the end. Seemed like a real nice guy, too. He died from complications from pneumonia. He was 94.
http://www.fromthevaultradio.org/home/wp-content/images/FTV133_Les%20Paul/les%20paul.jpg
Floydaholic, she probably did not mean anymore than what she said. If she meant more by it, and you wanted to pursue it further, you just might learn something....