Brooks

Brooks

  • Submitted By: kmckoy4
  • Date Submitted: 11/23/2008 8:50 PM
  • Category: Technology
  • Words: 326
  • Page: 2
  • Views: 479

Kyron McKoy November 11, 2008 Mrs. Abrahamson English 101 Excuse me while I kiss the sky Hendrix, the name will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest musicians ever to live. But how great was he and in what ways. Jimi was great in ways some will never know, bibliographies, videos, and recordings don’t do him justice. Hendrix was much more than just the music, he had an essence, a swagger all his own. From his critics to his competition Jimi is regarded as the best electric guitarist; period. Jimi was at the apex of innovation and the definition of a musical pioneer. He invented the technique of guitar feedback with overdriven amplifiers, still a staple in hard rock today. Hendrix had one of the most flashy and flamboyant seen anywhere, in fact he was fired from his first band in between sets because of his ostentatious style. This came from most black players following the glitzy manner blues/R&B tradition was played. Jimi was often seen playing with his teeth and behind his back. Another one of his favorites was performing Chuck Berry’s world famous ‘duck walk’. Playing left handed with a right handed guitar only added to his on stage persona. After playing in a few underground bands Jimi later joined the Rocking Kings who played professionally at such venues as the Birdland in Seattle. When his guitar was stolen by the Black Panthers backstage Jimi knew he didn’t have much African American support. Even though his music was blues influenced Hendrix played in integrated bands, this resulted in most blacks feeling betrayed and it didn’t sit well with Jimi. Sadly this wasn’t the first or last instance of racism in Jimi’s life; he had been expelled from Garfield by a racist faculty for holding hands with a white girlfriend in study hall. In a strange turn of events Garfield High, Jimi’s high school was heavily integrated

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