“The Birth of Loud” explores American innovation through the invention of the electric guitar and its impact on American music and the changes brought about by amplified music. The story follows, Leo Fender, a radio repairman, and Les Paul, a musician, as they compete to design the ultimate electric guitar, with Fender focusing on affordability and Paul on a more refined instrument. Their rivalry would lead to instruments that revolutionized post-WWII music, from the early days of rockabilly to the psychedelic era. Their designs were adopted by legendary musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and The Beatles. 

Ian S. Port is an award-winning writer and music critic whose work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Village Voice, The Threepenny Review, and The Believer, among others. He is the former music editor of the San Francisco Weekly. A California native and lifelong guitar player, he splits his time between Northern California and Brooklyn, New York.