Blues music, define a musical based reason instead. Jimi Hendrix’s music was a huge hit with rock music
fans because Jimi’s "angular snarling juxtaposition of [his background playing the guitar for the Isley
Brothers and Ike Turner] with white ‘psychedelic’ rock influences which helped lift Hendrix from the ranks of
gifted guitar journey [men] to become a true musical innovator. Similarly, his interest in the electronic
manipulation of highly amplified guitar sounds and the possibilities unleashed by advances in studio
technology were encouraged by the sonic sculpting of innovative white bands like the Beatles of Revolver
Vintage, and Cream" (Ward 1998:245).
[Possibly due to the mixed reactions Jimi's music career was receiving in 1970 or to once again
reinvent his sound], Jimi brought back drummer Mitch Mitchell to the group and together with Billy Cox on
bass, this new trio once again formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience. In the studio, the group recorded
several tracks for another two LP set, tentatively titled First Rays Of The New Rising Sun. Unfortunately,
Hendrix was unable to see this musical vision through to completion due to his hectic worldwide touring
schedules, then tragic death on September 18, 1970 at the age of 27 from a sleeping pill overdose.
Fortunately, the recordings Hendrix slated for release on the album were finally issued through the support
of his family and original studio engineer Eddie Kramer on the 1997 release First Rays Of The New
Rising Sun. With his death, a legend was created. Jimi Hendrix was one of Lenny Kravitz’s, a black and
Jewish rock artist, main musical influences. Sometimes critics label Lenny Kravitz as trying to copy Jimi
Hendrix’s music style because Lenny followed in Jimi’s footsteps in being one of the few black rock 'n'
roll...artists to break through in the mainstream rock scene.
Blue text comes from (http://jimi-hendrix.com/biography.html)
Green text comes from Shalondra Brown's, From Black To White, Crossing Over in Music
