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Jimi Hendrix

Object Details

Exhibition Label
Rock icon Jimi Hendrix taught himself to play guitar by listening to the records of noted blues guitarists, such as Muddy Waters. In 1964, after several years with a number of backup bands, he drifted to New York City where his performances eventually attracted the attention of a British pop artist who persuaded him to try his fortunes in England. There, he formed a trio called the Jimi Hendrix Experience, which thanks to Hendrix’s outrageous showmanship and innovative guitar playing, quickly became a sensation throughout Europe. When he returned to the United States in 1968, the response was much the same, and both Rolling Stone and Billboard maga- zines named him artist of the year.
Icónica figura del rock, Jimi Hendrix aprendió por sí mismo a tocar la guitarra escuchando las grabaciones de notables intérpretes de blues como Muddy Waters. En 1964, luego de varios años con diversas bandas de acompañamiento, llegó a Nueva York, donde atrajo la atención de un artista pop británico que lo convenció de probar fortuna en Inglaterra. Allí formó el trío Jimi Hendrix Experience y, gracias a su extravagante talento escénico y novedoso estilo de interpretación, el grupo causó sensación por toda Europa. Cuando regresó a Estados Unidos en 1968 la acogida fue muy similar, y tanto la revista Rolling Stone como Billboard lo nombraron artista del año.
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Artist
Unidentified Artist
Sitter
Jimi Hendrix, 27 Nov 1942 - 18 Sep 1970
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Medium
Color photolithographic poster on paper
Dimensions
Sheet: 86.5 × 56 cm (34 1/16 × 22 1/16")
Type
Print

Featured In

  • 1968: A Year in the Collections
  • Rock and Roll Music
  • The Art of Rock and Roll
  • The Blues
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