Monday, October 09, 2006

The Electric Gypsy

A book review: Electric Gypsy * Jimi Hendrix
The book Electric Gypsy written by Harry Shapiro and Caesar Glebbeck

Johnny Allen Hendrix whose name would be changed to James Marshall Hendrix and later known world wide as Jimi Hendrix lived a hard life to some. His younger years were rough as his parents struggled for money. He was passed around like a rag doll when his mother could not take care of him.Well, as we as suspected he was first given a ukelele by deatbeat father which led him to pick up a guitar one day at a local music and intrument store and he couldnt put it down.


Jimi joined the group The Rocking Kings, which never made into musical fame. Next for Jimi, The Rocking Kings evolved into Thomas & The TomCats. Jimi eventually dropped out of high school without ever recieving a degree. After many run ins with the Police. primarily in Seattle, Jimi enlisted in the U.S. Army and set off to begin his basic training. Jimi was sent to parachutte training where after 27 successful jumps he breaks his ankle and get released from the Army. After years of playing with less than average bands, Jimi joins The Isley Brothers and tours with them as back up guitar. Soon after, Little Richard enlists Jimi to tour with him. After being fired by Little Richard, Jimi starts recording music with Sue Records.


After again playing for numerous bands that never hit stardom. Jimi joined up with Chandler Chas from The Animals and played in England for the first time (September 9th 1966). Soon a group called The Jimi Hendrix Experience formed with Jimi as the star. December of 1966 was the first TV appearance for Jimi.


The groups first American show was in Monterey, Ca in June of 1967. The group became a huge succes.


Jimi Hendrix became famous for his amazing guitar skills. Thought it took him years to make it onto the charts and radios we listen to, he never gave up. The book truly portrayed his talent and drive.

Jimi's favor for drugs drove him to a unique side of music which everyone soon titles as genius. However, his dip into LSD, X, and marijuanna made him a nervous musican almost leading to his fall out of music. In honor of his passion of a variety of drug, one can often hear his narcotics reference in his songs like Purple Haze and A Merman I should Turn to Be and Moon, Turn The Tides. Arrested many times for numerous reasons, he lead on ending up playing in many huge and high profile spots.

Jimi is known for his creative guitar work (aka; playing with his teeth, playing a right handed guitar with his left so its looks like the guitar is upside down) jumping to his knees and for his awkwardly soothing vocals.

While Hendrix is known most for his remake of "All Along The Watchtower" originally created by Bob Dylan, he was musically gifted in terms of writing his own music. While he favored different genres of women, Jimi was known for mixed meida style. He played, sang and entertained a variety of music. As he rose to fame, Jimi's personal like took anose dive leaving him in drug induced comatosed state, unable to write new music and unevitably play his guitar at times. Some people called Jimi's music "sloppy." While other called him a musical magician. He earned over 1.3 million dollars in one year doiong tours in the U.S. alone.

This eventually le to his death, however before this he lived to the release of over 34 albums, the memorable somgs life "Foxy Lady," "The Wind Cries Mary," "Hey Joe," and "Voodoo Chile." Jimi's last on stage gig was memorable as he "jammed" with Eric Burdon and War. Jimi died on September 18th, 1970 due to inhalation of vomit due to barbiturate intoxication." He is still remembered today as one of America's greatest guitarists.

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