In his short yet remarkable life, Jimi Hendrix epitomized the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. This extraordinarily gifted guitarist not only redefined rock music, surpassing its origins in rhythm and blues from the 1950s and early 1960s, but also developed a unique, more robust style. This helped him to earn well-deserved recognition as one of the greatest musicians to ever master the instrument.
After passing away too soon in 1970 at the age of 27, Hendrix became almost legendary, much like his contemporary Jim Morrison. Hendrix’s intriguing presence in history endures despite his tragically early death and membership in the ’27 Club’. His on-stage persona was very different from his seemingly quiet and introverted off-stage self.
Naturally, Hendrix possessed the extraordinary capacity to hold complete focus at any time he desired. Especially in regards to his personal beliefs and taste in music. It is commonly known that Hendrix adored The Beatles and Bob Dylan, the latter of whom was undoubtedly his favourite. In particular, he praised Dylan’s skill with words, saying, “Those who don’t like Bob Dylan’s songs should read his lyrics”. They are full of life’s pleasures and sorrows,” Hendrix said to Steve Barker in 1967.
Dylan, like his contemporaries, pioneered the fusion of folk and rock, influencing many to do the same. Hendrix found inspiration in folk musicians, especially his dear friend Richie Havens, as they roamed New York’s Greenwich Village.
One evening, Havens dropped by Hendrix’s London flat with a copy of Mixed Bag, his upcoming album. This informal get-together quickly turned into an unplanned celebration when Havens stole Jimi’s Epiphone acoustic guitar and gave a powerful rendition of his anti-war hit song, “Handsome Johnny”. After this spontaneous performance, observers reported that everyone in attendance had a hint of emotion in their eyes.
One of Hendrix’s favourite performers was folk legend Joan Baez, especially from her Dylan-cover-heavy album Any Day Now. During that time, Baez and Dylan had a mutual influence on each other’s work. They had a strong connection to the civil rights movement and the 1960s folk music revival. Some of Dylan’s most well-known songs, including “Blowin’ In The Wind” and “It Ain’t Me Babe,” appear in Any Day Now, among many other songs.
Hendrix also admired Tim Buckley’s folk-infused psychedelic rock. Hendrix was partial to his 1967 debut album Goodbye and Hello, which was a bold release for Buckley at the age of 20. The album included songs with different time signatures and poetry in the vein of the late 1960s. Jimi Hendrix holds a place as one of the music industry’s most beloved innovators. His appreciation of various folk variations and folk elements demonstrated his own expertise as a musician.
