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Jimmy/Jimi Hendrix |
| James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American musician, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and cultural icon. He was born on November 27, 1942 and died on September 18, 1970. Although he only lived 28 years, Hendrix is arguably the greatest and most influential electric guitarist in rock music history. |
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| Mostly self-taught on the guitar, the left-handed Hendrix played a right-handed guitar turned upside-down and restrung to suit him. As a guitarist, he built upon the innovations of many blues stylists, R&B guitarists, and soul guitarists. Hendrix was also influenced by jazz music.
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Hendrix also extended the tradition of rock guitar: although previous guitarists had employed techniques such as feedback, distortion, and other effects as sonic tools, Hendrix made them an integral part of his compositions. Jimi was notably one of the first to experiment with stereo and phasing effects during the recording process.
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Mitch Mitchell |
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Mitch Mitchell was born on July 9, 1947 and was a drummer for Jimi Hendrix. He was one of the most influential drummers of the late 1960s and early '70s. Mitchell came from a jazz background and was strongly influenced by the work of Elvin Jones, Philly Joe Jones, and Art Blakely. He brought this dynamic, flowing style to the group, and was given the freedom to "take it out there" along with Jimi Hendrix. Mitch pioneered a style of drumming that would later be known as fusion.
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In late 1966, this expressive style of playing was unheard of in rock. Drums had always been expected to stay in the background with the bass. Along with Hendrix's groundbreaking guitar work, Mitch's playing helped to redefine rock music.
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Mitch was Hendrix's most important musical collaborator, playing in Hendrix's Experience trio from October 1966 to mid-1969, and he also played his Woodstock band in August 1969. After Hendrix's death, Mitch also helped finish production work on several incomplete Hendrix recordings.
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Noel Redding |
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Noel Redding was born on December 25, 1945 and died on May 11, 2003. Noel played the violin at age nine, at twelve years old he played the mandolin, and at fourteen years old he played the guitar. He joined the Experience in 1966 and left the band in 1969. He actually joined the band by accident. He had gone to audition on guitar with the Animals and got the job as Jimi's bassist.
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After Redding left Hendrix in 1969, he appeared in other bands, but he never achieved a similar level of success. Noel Redding recorded and toured periodically through the years, occasionally doing work on other artists' albums. He died at his home in Ireland at the age of 58.
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