Jimi Hendrix became popular for the person that he was rather than the songs that he wrote. "Purple Haze" was known as his signature song primarily because it was his first really big hit that was his own music. He crossed many boundaries and influenced many musicians to come. Hendrix excelled in unique guitar sounds, and "Purple Haze" is a fine showing of Hendrix's combination of sounds and innovative lyrics. He changed rock and roll by making his music show what the musician was thinking instead of just giving the listener what they wanted to hear. He gave musicians motivation for musical expression he didn't just show talent when he played he showed feeling and emotion. These are just a few of the reasons why Hendrix's music was included in the NPR's top 100.

Hendrix was born November 27, 1942 in Seattle, Washington. The father of this young rock star bought him his first guitar at age eleven. It wasn't anything spectacular; it was actually an old right-handed acoustic. Even though Hendrix was left-handed it still didn't stop him. He strung the guitar up backwards, so he could play lefty, and started to teach himself how to play. Learning to play by yourself isn't exactly

Larkin, Colin. The Guiness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. New York: Stockton. 1995

On top of this new sound Hendrix had a ridiculous sense of stage presence. The engineer in the recording of "Purple Haze" was a man by the name of Eddie Kramer. Kramer said that Hendrix was unbelievably shy and hated the sound of his own voice. In order to record him they had to set up screens all around him and turn the lights down so nobody could see him. If what Kramer said is true; it's hard to understand how Hendrix could be so out of control on stage. It has been known that he was a fan of drugs. "Excuse me while I kiss the sky" is one of Hendrix's lines in "Purple Haze."

Jimi Hendrix did a lot for rock music all over the world. He continues to be listened to and influential to musicians still today. His time on earth was relatively short, but he made his mark. It's just a shame he isn't around to see all that he did.

easy, but Hendrix had a lot of patience and determination to keep up with his playing. At the time Hendrix listened to blues musicians like Robert Johnson and B. B. King. This influenced Hendrix's blues riffs in his music later in life. As a teenager Hendrix played in a few different rock bands in Seattle. The young musician discovered what he loved to do at an early age. Fans question why Jimi Hendrix looked elsewhere before realizing that rock and roll would be his life.

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