Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix (27 November, 1942 – 18 September, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is frequently credited as being the most important electric guitarist in the history of popular music.

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Mostly self-taught on the instrument, Hendrix played a right-handed guitar, but turned upside down and restrung left-handed. As a guitarist, he built upon the innovations of blues stylists such as B. B. King, Albert King, Buddy Guy, T-Bone Walker, and Muddy Waters, as well as those of R&B and soul music guitarists like Curtis Mayfield. Hendrix was also influenced greatly by jazz and often cited Rahsaan Roland Kirk as his favorite musician. In addition, Hendrix extended the tradition of rock guitar: although previous guitarists, such as The Kinks' Dave Davies, and The Who's Pete Townshend, had employed techniques such as feedback, distortion and other effects as sonic tools, Hendrix was able to exploit them to a previously undreamed-of extent, and to incorporate them as an integral part of his compositions.

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It is reported that Hendrix so desired a guitar by the time he was in grade school that he had fits of depression when his father, who viewed the instrument as frivolous and jazz/rock as sinful, refused to get him one. His school counsellor told his father to get him a guitar, and his father gave him a one stringed toy guitar. Jimi played it so much that his father finally relented and bought his son a real guitar.

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As a record producer, Hendrix was one of the first to use the recording studio as an extension of his musical ideas. Hendrix was notably one of the first to experiment with stereo effects during the recording process. Hendrix was also an accomplished songwriter whose compositions have been covered by countless artists. Finally, his image and influence as a rock star places him in the company of Little Richard, Chuck Berry, the Beatles, and Hendrix's first idol Elvis Presley.

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The controversial nature of Hendrix's style is epitomized in the sentiments expressed about his renditions of the "Star Spangled Banner", a tune he played loudly and sharply accompanied by simulated sounds of war (machine guns, bombs and screams) from his guitar. His impressionistic renditions have been described by some as anti-American mockery and by others as a generation's statement on the unrest in U.S. society, oddly symbolic of the beauty, spontaneity, and tragedy that was endemic to Hendrix's life. When taken to task on the Dick Cavett Show on the "unorthodox" nature of his performance, Hendrix replied, "I thought it was beautiful."

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1942: This article is about the year. For the 1984 Capcom arcade game, see 1942 (video game)....

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Jimi Hendrix related Images and Photos (experimental)

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