Jimi Hendrix was one of the most influential and talented musicians of the 20th century, and through his work he made rock music what it is today. His talent with a guitar was what made him so popular in his own time. The reason he became a rock and roll legend in the 20th century was because of his new style, outrageous performances and his powerful lyrics which captivated his audiences. His new style of music involved, "...the extensive use but sensitively nuanced use of feedback, distortion, and other electronically manipulated sound effects." ("Hendrix, Jimi"). Some found the performances he put on to be crazy or insane, but his fans found them to be inspiring. Nevertheless, "The true power of his genius lay in his musical and lyrical candor." (Fricke).
On November 27, 1942 at 10:15 Johnny Allen Hendrix was born in King County Hospital. Johnny's name was changed 4 years later to James Marshal Hendrix, the name he is better know by today.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience performs for Dutch tel...
Experience (Jimi Hendrix album)
English: Jimi Hendrix performs for Dutch televisio...Just a few months after Jimi turned 16 his mother Lucille died. Jimi got his first guitar later in the year of his mother's death. ("Time Line") Many people think his heartbreak over his mother's death is why Jimi turned to the guitar and writing music because, "At its core, Hendrix's music was all about the blues." (Fricke). A year later in 1959 Jimi played in his first concert with "The Velvetones". Then Jimi dropped out of high school to join the army. He was only in the army for about 3 months because he got injured during a mission and was discharged. Less than a year after being discharged from the army Jimi began to play on the R & B circuit. After about 4 years of that Jimi formed his own band called "...