Jimi Hendrix Essay -- History

Jimi Hendrix A legend was born on November 27, 1942 in Seattle with the conception of James Allen Hendrix. He was a true American of Black, White and Cherokee blood. As a child, James who later changed his name to Jimi, was very shy and was introverted to friends and family. He grew up in different homes that ranged from city life to living on the Cherokee reservation with his grandmother. With all of the difficulties that he struggled with in his early life he found refuge in music. His father bought him a guitar at the age of 13 and his love for music had begun. He grew up he listening to the music of the 40's and 50's and became well aquatinted with the sounds of other eras preserved in his father's record collection. There was a great influence of blues as well of R&B music that influenced his style and play. He spent what free time he had on the guitar and dropped out of school in 1959 so he would be able to further pursue his dreams. After he dropped out he enlisted in the army and! spent t his time trying to figure out who he really was. He followed his dreams and after his discharge from the army he became a musician. For the next ten years Hendrix played with a countless number of bands on the way to his notoriety. His greatest success occurred when he formed the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 66'. With this he exposed to America who he was and what he stood for. During his reign he confidently rose to success with powerful and inspiring music. He was, "a prolific and profligate creator who left almost everyone who heard or saw him with the distinct impression that the heartcenter of his work remained tantalizingly out of reach."1 Jimi Hendrix remains an enigma, an innovator that remains unparalleled in what he brought... ... believed was right. He knew no other way, but maintained his integrity. "A musician, if he's a messenger, is like a child who hasn't been handled too many times by man, hasn't had too many fingerprints across his brain. That's why music is so much heavier than anything you've ever felt."7 As stated by Hendrix in 69'. In life, Hendrix wanted the same thing as everyone else. He wanted to enjoy life and his occupation and he wanted to do something which added something positive to the world. He wanted to live life to the fullest and at the same time he wanted to have peace, an open mind, the freedom to be creative and the ability to make the world a better place for the next generations. Jimi Hendrix exemplified the Jesuit philosophy of being a man for others through his religious freedom, his opinionated political views and his positive influence on the community.