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From Yesterday To Today: A Look At Jimi Hendrix, George Clinton And Outkast

From Yesterday to Today: A Look at Jimi Hendrix, George Clinton and Outkast

Professor Jones
Nicole Jones
MUH-1350

Flamboyant colors, loud belted lyrics and original style; all are the makings of a true American rock star. The 1960's in America were an especially difficult, emotional, and experimental years for most. Vietnam, Civil Rights and freedom of expression and speech are all important factors in the nonconformity of music during this time. One of the key players in the 1960's music scene was an amazing performer named Jimi Hendrix. In the following paper I will explore the phenomenon that Jimi Hendrix brought to music, and how he in turn, influenced George Clinton, and Outkast to be the outstandingly different and successful artists they are today.

Jimi, born James Marshal Hendrix in Seattle, Washington, on November 27, 1942; was of American of African, European, Cherokee Indian and Mexican descent. Jimmy picked up his first guitar at the age of 12, and soon after feel deeply in love with it. At the age of 16, Jimi was thrown out of school for holding the hand of a white girl in class. He was an avid player of rock 'n' roll in small time bands before voluntarily joining the army at 17. After 14 months as a paratrooper, learning a lot about falling and flying, he suffered an injury and was discharged. He decided to enter the music field.

The following four years he worked hard touring and playing back-up guitar for various bands including Little Richard, Ike and Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett, the Isley Brothers and the late King Curtis among many others. Jimi was searching for something else in music, so the conditions were not suited to his radical temperament. He eventually was drawn to New York's Greenwich Village where he recorded with the Isley Brothers, Curtis Knight and others.

In late 1965 he formed his first band - Jimmy James and the Blue Flames. They worked the clubs where he was seen by other musicians who immediately recognized...