CEA Beauceville / My Idol

This person reminds me of my childhood. My father’s favourite guitar player, Jimi Hendrix was exceptional! He was the best guitar player in the world and I think it has not changed in the heart of lots of people.

Born in the United-States in Seattle, on November 27th 1942 under the name of Johnny Allen Hendrix, this famous artist was not alone in the world. He had a little brother born in 1948, Leon Hendrix. His mother, Lucille Hendrix, alcoholic, died in February 1958.Hendrix met his father, alcoholic too, only when he was three years old, because his father had a military obligation. When he came back to the American military base of Oklahoma, Al Hendrix, his father, renamed him under the name of James Marshall Hendrix under the name of his brother who died. Hendrix had his first music instrument at 4 years old, a harmonica. However, he did not really like it. He had his first guitar at 15 years old. This acoustic guitar, was offered by his father when he was surprised to play with a broom. So he learned by himself to play the guitar and his school results dropped down. Jimmy joined his first band of music, The Velvetones. He bought his first electric guitar, a Supro Ozark 1560s that he used with his second band, The Rocking Kings. In 1962, He formed the Band The King Casual, with Billy Cox to the basses. One day Chas Chandler noticed Jimmy at Coffee Wha and suggested him to come to the United Kingdom to record a single. He accepted only if he could meet Eric Clapton. On the road, his manager suggested him to change his name for Jimi. He met Eric Clapton for the first time on October 1st, 1966 at the Central London Polytechnic at a concert of Cream, the new Band created by Clapton. The best Blues English guitar player up to this time accepted Jimi to join him on the scene. Clapton told, in his autobiography, that Hendrix was more than a firework when he saw Jimi play the guitar with his teeth. On December 16th, 1966, Hey Joe, his first single was published, after his second single « Purple Haze » was composed on December 26th and published on March 17th, 1967. The first album, Are you Experienced, was published on May 5th, 1967. The critics were positive about this album. Hendrix was popular and he did not only play with his band. He met a lot of rock musicians, whom we can hear on a couple of single.

In conclusion, Jimi Hendrix had a short life but with a lot of experiences, in fact, everyone knows that he took a lot of drugs. Jimi was found dead in London in a hotel on November 18th, 1970. No one knows the real cause of his death. Some people say that it was an overdose and other say it was a murder. Jimi Hendrix was the best guitar player in the world for many people. I will talk more about him. He was really a big and fascinating character who will remain the best in the memory of so many persons including me and my father!

Ivy