Jimi Hendrix and His Contribution to the Evolution of Rock and Roll

James Marshall Hendrix, or otherwise known as Jimi Hendrix, is one of the most influential musical figures in music history. Recognized as one of the most genius guitarists, singers, and songwriters of the '60s, Jimi Hendrix has paved the way for what is rock and roll today. Hendrix is presumably considered as one of the most original and greatest electric guitarists of all time. He is notably remembered for experimenting and combining a variety of different genres of music and composing it into a rendition of his own distinct sound. Hendrix was also praised for his outrageous yet charismatic performance skills on stage as he created and improved the image of rock. Hendrix’s rise to fame however only lasted for a brief four years due to the abrupt stop of his death at the young age of 27. Although his fame did not last long, Jimi Hendrix, innovated a new eccentric style to rock and roll that had a powerful impact on music history and inspired many musicians who came after him.

Biography of Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942, in Seattle, Washington, into a middle-class family. At an early age, Jimi’s parents divorced and his father received full custody of him and his four other siblings. Growing up, Jimi was always drawn to music and would even strum a broom as if it were a guitar. Eventually, Jimi’s father would gift him an acoustic guitar and young Jimi would learn how to play entirely self-taught just by listening and watching others play. However, in 1960 his music career came to a halt due to Jimi enlisting in the army to avoid jail time for riding in stolen cars. Stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Jimi would meet and form a band with bassist guitar player, Billy Cox. After being discharged from the army in 1962, Jimi would go on to become a session guitarist. At this point in his life, Hendrix had sustained attention and popularity and had played as a back-line guitarist for several legendary acts such as Tina Turner, Little Richard, Sam Cooke, and The Isley Brothers. However tired of being a backup guitarist, Hendrix decided to become a lead guitarist and was brought out to England in 1966, where he formed the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Quickly after releasing hits such as ‘Hey Joe’, ‘The Purple Haze’, ‘The Wind Cries Mary’, and many more contributed to Hendrix’s immediate success in Britain. Jimi’s stage performance also took the US by surprise, as he played the guitar with his teeth and behind his back, and even burned his guitar live on stage. Hendrix changed the game of rock and roll as well by changing the trend by singing and playing the lead at the same time, which no other artists had done before. He revolutionized a new sound to rock and roll and wanted to make more complex music that he resided with. Unfortunately, before Hendrix could see his vision through, he died of drug-related complications on September 18, 1970, in London.

Analysis of the Historical Contributions of Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix has left a long-lasting legacy on rock and roll today by breaking down barriers of tradition and creating a new level of said genre. However, one of the most impactful contributions Jimi Hendrix had on US history that is often overlooked is his influence on black artists. From George Clinton and Sly the Family Stone to Kanye West and Pharrell, Hendrix’s artistry foreshadowed the possibilities of what black music could look and sound like. However, during his time of fame, he faced many controversial affairs due to his affiliation with being a black man playing in a ‘white’ genre of music. For example, because of Hendrix’s striking yet audacious performances, he was labeled as a ‘wild man’, ‘Black Elvis’, or even the name of ‘Psychedelic Supersede’, which was a term used to describe black people who were exceptionally talented. Hendrix often faced double standards when white rock and roll stars, who ‘ransacked black musical styles’, were praised for their work, while Hendrix was accused of and criticized for ripping off other white artists. However, although he faced many racial critics his audience was made up of white people. Yet whenever Hendrix was addressed by these fans, they hardly mentioned Jimi’s race but instead about his guitar. They could hear his genius but they couldn’t see his heritage. This displayed the constant reminder to Hendrix that being a black artist he had to work twice as hard to prevail in a genre that had belonged to his people, but was not viewed as such.

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However, although Hendrix faced these problems he continued to persevere and work twice as hard to push down boundaries. For example, before Jimi Hendrix came into the scene of music, black artists were presented through conservatism, as there was a sense that black artists had to present themselves in as dapper a fashion as possible to counter any racist perceptions of black people and black performers. Yet, once Hendrix became successful, he played a key role in changing this image as he wore his distinctive afro and sharp suits that eluded a ‘freaked out’ look and many black artists followed in suit and embraced their blackness on stage as well. Hendrix continued to push through the obstacles that he faced as a black man playing a white man's genre and was one of the first to open the doors for other black artists to express themselves through the music world.

Personalized Interpretation of Jimi Hendrix

Throughout Jimi Hendrix’s life, he faced many obstacles and struggles yet he continued to stay determined and follow through with what he found as his calling which was music. Hendrix’s quality of spiritedness and purposefulness to persevere when it seemed like all odds were against him is what contributed to his success. Hendrix’s success relates to my own personal and academic success because there are times in which I feel that all odds are against me. I also identify with Hendrix because I have faced a similar event in my life of growing up in a brown and black neighborhood and going to a predominantly white school where at times I felt out of place and undermined, although I contributed the same if not more than the other white students at my school. I had to work twice as hard just to get the same recognition as the student whose status of identity was held above mine. So, Hendrix’s role of perseverance and patience to work hard and achieve his goals in life is what plays a big part in my success as a student. This is why Hendrix’s contributions to history should be considered important, because although he could not read or write, he was still able to learn how to play the guitar by himself. To add to that, although he was a black man playing in a white man's category of music, he was still able to make a name for himself in rock and roll and become one of the greatest electric guitarists to this day.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Jimi Hendrix’s legacy in music history continues to live on to this day. Hendrix’s perseverance and diligence have contributed to his determination to break boundaries in music history and shape rock and roll into what it is today. From incorporating and developing his own distinguishable sound, to altering the image of black artists, and rocking the racial divide in rock in roll; Hendrix’s has left an impactful mark not only on music, but as well as on black artists today such as Lenny Kravitz, Most Def, Frank Ocean, and many more. Acknowledged as one of the most renowned musical figures in rock history, Jimi Hendrix’s innovation and revolution on rock and roll have continued to influence and pave the way in the history of rock music.