I could not believe that a person was able to play the guitar with such perfection. When I got home I researched about John Mayer’s mastery of the guitar. I discovered that John Mayer heard a Stevie Ray Vaughan cassette when he was a kid and fell in love with the guitar. Therefore, John spent the rest of his life determined to conquer the
Jimi Allen Hendrix Jimi Hendrix, a name that has and will continue to last throughout history and for years to come. Though Jimi Hendrix was just a musician he made major contributions to the music industry; which was a turning point in guitar playing. His style of guitar playing still influences musicians today. From musicians like Slash, to Prince to Eric Clapton who have all mentioned how Jimi Hendrix influenced them. This paper will not simply be about Jimi Hendrix and his music career, but it will also tell about the man off the stage, his childhood, the struggles he had to go through to get to where he was in his life, and the decisions he made that cost him not only his music career but also his life.
“Greatest Hits” by Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen was born in Freehold, New Jersey on September 23rd, 1949. Having a fond interest in the music world, Springsteen, began learning how to play the guitar in his high school years. He developed his skill as a guitarist and eventually became what he is today. Bruce was a quick learner and because of this success he joined quite a few bands in his early days. First, he joined semi-professional bands such as “The Castiles” and “Steel Mill,” but he wanted to start his own band and write his own songs.
The Experience's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame biography states: "Jimi Hendrix was arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music. Hendrix expanded the range and vocabulary of the electric guitar into areas no musician had ever ventured before. His boundless drive, technical ability and creative application of such effects as wah-wah and distortion forever transformed the sound of rock and roll." He favored overdriven amplifiers with high volume and gain; something artists before him had never tried stated by Waksman. His performance at Woodstock in 1969 of the Star Spangled Banner became a song sung at just the right moment for everyone to remember it and make a statement around the nation.
Elvis Aaron Presleya (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King". Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, Presley moved to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family at the age of 13. He began his career there in 1954, working with Sun Records owner Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African American music to a wider audience.
He also switched some of the lyrics around, or added a few more notes. So, whenever Bob Dylan would perform a song of his for his audience, the song would never be the same. This gave his fans a little more curiosity for his music and caught a couple more peoples attention. Knowing that you will not listen to the same song everyday, people were more attracted to his music. He always knew how to spice up his concerts and public appearances.
It was exciting and the beat stayed in your mind. The band added vocals too which made it even more interesting. I also like how the music was organized. A theme was introduced in the beginning and then repeated at the end. It completed the circle.
Son House was an African-american blues artist who was a considerably a guitar virtuoso. When Johnson moved to Robinsonville in search of his biological father he spent much of his time practicing his string skill. Later down the road, Robert returned to Hazelhurt and impressed many people with his incredible advancements. Johnson inherited much of House's guitar style. Many could have the audacity to say that this is the rising action to his legendary career.
Of all the performers of the 60's, Hendrix was the most influential in the world of music. His technically superior ability as a guitarist far exceeded the extravagant showmanship for which he was mostly known. Hendrix influence still remains today in the playing of every guitarist. He was also a largely pivotal figure in the continuance of American black music. He intently reformed the music of his forefathers and elders of Rob Johnson, Muddy Waters, Charlie Christian, and Chuck Berry, into electrifying future soul and balladry.
I never knew that so many bands were formed during this era and that each one had very talented musicians from all walks of life. I enjoyed reading about Lester Young whose father was a minstrel-show musician. Lester Young played with Walter Page’s “Blue Devils” and “The Bennie Moten-George Lee Band”. Some of Young’s idols growing up were Frankie Trumbauer and Bix Beiderbecke. Lester Young joined the Fletcher Henderson orchestra to replace Coleman Hawkins but didn’t stay very long due to his lack of loud, resonant, and vibrato-laden tone that Hawkins displayed as referred to on (p.265).