Jimi Hendrix is rightfully considered the grandfather of rock and roll. Almost all modern rock stars were inspired by his work. He was a freedom pioneer of his time and a brilliant guitarist. Odes, songs and films are dedicated to him. Rock legend Jimi Hendrix.
Childhood and youth of Jimi Hendrix
The future legend was born on November 27, 1942 in Seattle. Almost nothing positive can be said about the musician's family. Not much time was devoted to raising the boy, the parents tried to survive as best they could.
The guy was only 9 years old when his parents decided to divorce. The child stayed with his mother. However, eight years later, she died, and the teenager was taken in by his grandparents.
Little time was devoted to raising the boy. The street influenced his hobbies. Never finished school, the guy fell in love with guitar motifs from an early age.
I listened to records by B.B. King, Robert Jones and Elmore James. Having bought a simple guitar, the guy tried to imitate his idols and played popular tunes all day long.
In his youth, Jimi Hendrix was not a law-abiding teenager. Rebel and freedom lover. He was repeatedly involved in violation of the rules of social behavior. He almost got jailed for stealing a car.
The lawyer was able to achieve the replacement of the prison term for military service. The musician also did not like the service. The only characteristic that he received after demobilization for health reasons was unreliable.
Road to fame Jimi Hendrix
The first group that the musician created with friends was called King Kasuals. The guys have long tried to gain popularity by performing in the bars of Nashville. However, they could only earn enough to eat.
In pursuit of fame, Jimi Hendrix persuaded his friends to move to New York. There, a talented musician was immediately noticed by one of the members of the Rolling Stones.
Debut album by Jimi Hendrix
Producer Chess Chandler saw potential in the guy, and The Jimi Hendrix Experience was born. The contract meant moving the band to the UK, which was then considered the birthplace of rock music.
The producers, who relied on the talent of the musician, forced him to record the first album, Are You Experienced. After the release of the record, the guitar virtuoso almost immediately became a world celebrity.
The debut album of the musician is still considered the most successful and significant for world rock music. His work is rated as psychedelic rock.
The hippie movement, which was very popular, adopted the musician's compositions as a hymn to their ideals and aspirations. Many tracks from the first album are recognized as the best in the history of rock.
Feeling the first waves of popularity, the musician began recording the second album. The new work had a slightly different direction compared to the first record, it was more romantic. However, it was in the tracks of the second studio work that the guitar solos sounded most vividly. They proved the virtuosity of the instrument of the newly-minted rock star.
World glory
In the 1960s of the last century, the fame and popularity of the musician gained worldwide proportions. The talented guitarist became the idol of millions. The band approached the recording of the third studio album with maximum responsibility. Constant touring made it difficult to focus on the process.
Jimi Hendrix tried to make every track sound perfect. Outside performers were involved in the creative process. Electric Ladyland deservedly gained the status of "Golden Album", thanks to which the group enjoyed worldwide popularity.
Jimi Hendrix was not only the leader of the rock wave of the time. He was a kind of trendsetter for free people.
His stage persona differed sharply from the usual with acid-colored shirts with turned up collars, vintage vests, colored bandanas and military jackets, with various insignia.
At one of the festivals, the musician broke and burned his guitar during a performance. He explained his act as a sacrifice in the name of music.
The end of Jimi Hendrix's career
His last performance was participation in the British festival Isle of Wight. Despite the virtuoso performance of 13 compositions, the audience reacted very coldly to the musician. This caused a prolonged depression.
He locked himself in a Samarkand hotel room with his lover and did not go out for several days. On September 18, 1970, an ambulance was called to find the musician in the room with no signs of life.
Jimi's official cause of death was an overdose of sleeping pills. Although drugs were also found in the hotel room.
The musician was buried in America, although during his lifetime he dreamed that his grave was in London. He entered the legendary Club 27, as he passed away at the age of 27.
His influence on the formation of rock music is difficult to overestimate. Until now, the work of Jimi Hendrix inspires many beginners and experienced musicians.
To this day, documentaries and feature films are being made about the work of this talented person. They also release music tracks, adding to the musician's extensive discography.
