Free Essays on Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix, the greatest guitarist in rock history, revolutionized the sound of rock. In 1967, the Jimi Hendrix Experience rocked the nation with their first album, Are You Experienced?. Hendrix's life was cut short by the tragedy of drugs in 1970, when he was only twenty seven years old. In these three years the sound of rock changed greatly, and Hendrix fs guitar playing was a major influence. Jimi was born in Seattle, Washington on November 27, 1942. As a young boy, whenever the chance came, Jimi would try to play along with his R & B records. However, music was not his life long dream. At first, the army was. In the late 1950 fs, Hendrix enlisted in the 101st Airborne Division. After sustaining a back injury during a jump, he received a medical discharge. After his army career came to an abrupt end, he decided to go into the music field. By this time he had become an accomplished guitarist, and was soon to become known as the greatest guitarist ever (Stambler, pg. 290). However, he did not start out at the top. Jimi started out playing as part of the back-up for small time R & B groups. It did not take long before his work was in demand with some of the best known artists in the field, such as B.B. King, Ike and Tina Turner, Solomon Burke, Jackie Wilson, Littler Richard, Wilson Pickett, and King Curtis (Clifford, pg. 181). Using the name Jimmy James, he toured with a bunch of R & B shows, including six months as a member of James Brown fs Famous Flames (Stambler, pg. 290). At the Cafe Wha! in New York, in 1966, Hendrix decided to try singing. Jimi lucked out when a man by the name of Charles  gChas h Chandler from Eric Burdon's Animals heard him at the club and thought he was sensational. When Chas heard him again later that year, he talked Jimi into moving to England where he would really get the chance to start his career (Stambler, pg. 290). Along with Chas, Hendr... Free Essays on Jimi Hendrix Free Essays on Jimi Hendrix Jimi Hendrix The life of Jimi Hendrix is one that many people know. It was a short, inspiring, and happy life. Although his lifestyle wasn’t virtuous, his music was. He inspired music groups, such as the Beetles (McDermott 7). John Allen Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942,in Seattle, Washington. His lifestyle at a young age wasn’t good. His mother Lucille, was still a teen and his father Al, was a serviceman and they did not live together during their relationship. Jimi didn’t see his father until the age of three when his father was discharged from the army in 1945. Jimi was placed in the care of a family in Berkley, California. When Al found what had happened he traveled to Berkley retrieve his son and brought him back to Seattle. When this happened a new life began. As Jimi grew up he developed a great love for music. He received his first guitar in the summer of 1958. It was a five-dollar second-hand acoustic guitar, and in 1959 Al bought Jimi an electric guitar. In 1961 he enlisted in the United States army and in ’62 earned the "Screaming Eagles" patch for the paratroop division. He was stationed at Fort Campbell. While there he met Billy Cox, and they formed The King Casuals. After being discharged from the army, he landed in New York City. There he met Fayne Pridgeon, a major fixture in the music industry(McDermott 8). Fayne introduced him into the major music industry. Fayne got him some gigs and helped spread his name. He was a back-up guitarists and played with many of the great musicians of that time. He played for The Isley Brothers, Little Richard, and B.B King. But this wasn’t enough for Jimi. He wanted more. He wanted to be the leader and not the follower. In effort to start a major music career he left for England and said this, "It’s me, Dad. I’m in England. I’ve met some people and they’re going to make me a big star. We changed my name to J-I-M-I." In London ... Free Essays on Jimi Hendrix Jimi Hendrix, the greatest guitarist in rock history, revolutionized the sound of rock. In 1967, the Jimi Hendrix Experience rocked the nation with their first album, Are You Experienced?. Hendrix's life was cut short by the tragedy of drugs in 1970, when he was only twenty seven years old. In these three years the sound of rock changed greatly, and Hendrix fs guitar playing was a major influence. Jimi was born in Seattle, Washington on November 27, 1942. As a young boy, whenever the chance came, Jimi would try to play along with his R & B records. However, music was not his life long dream. At first, the army was. In the late 1950 fs, Hendrix enlisted in the 101st Airborne Division. After sustaining a back injury during a jump, he received a medical discharge. After his army career came to an abrupt end, he decided to go into the music field. By this time he had become an accomplished guitarist, and was soon to become known as the greatest guitarist ever (Stambler, pg. 290). However, he did not start out at the top. Jimi started out playing as part of the back-up for small time R & B groups. It did not take long before his work was in demand with some of the best known artists in the field, such as B.B. King, Ike and Tina Turner, Solomon Burke, Jackie Wilson, Littler Richard, Wilson Pickett, and King Curtis (Clifford, pg. 181). Using the name Jimmy James, he toured with a bunch of R & B shows, including six months as a member of James Brown fs Famous Flames (Stambler, pg. 290). At the Cafe Wha! in New York, in 1966, Hendrix decided to try singing. Jimi lucked out when a man by the name of Charles  gChas h Chandler from Eric Burdon's Animals heard him at the club and thought he was sensational. When Chas heard him again later that year, he talked Jimi into moving to England where he would really get the chance to start his career (Stambler, pg. 290). Along with Chas, Hendr...