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Carolyn Carter

Leslie Beadles

English Composition I

9/19/2021

Essay 1: Person I Admire, Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix is well regarded as one of, if not, the best electric guitarists of recording

history. His sound is easily recognized as being uniquely his own, and his influence on rock

music is pervasive and enduring. By using effects and a variety of equipment to distort sound, he

created art that revolutionized modern music. Hendrix on stage was a true wonder; he had all the

understated self-assurance anyone could hope to possess. Whether playing upside down or

behind his back, he never missed a beat. Hendrix’s fashion style has become iconic. He would

wear velvets, feathers, and jewelry previously considered to be only for women. The status quo

was not the way of Hendrix; his disregard of normalcy, his experimentations and boundary-

pushing, along with his effortless confidence, all offer a different path and mindset I truly

admire.

Hendrix could have been successful and potentially even memorable if he had never

pushed the envelope. He was a talented musician, but that seemed to never be his end goal. New

technologies were being invented in his time, and he shied away from none of them. Hendrix

was an experimenter, and he employed all sorts of equipment to create and hone his own sound.

When a person hears a Hendrix song, he knows whose it is. How admirable to never rest on your

own laurels, but to keep trying, pushing, and molding your own creations?
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A person may have all the ability or knowledge in the world, but if he cannot convey it to

another, it is lost. On a stage, the best performers are able to express themselves in a way that is

engaging, yet non-threatening, and Jimi Hendrix had a stage presence unlike any other. He

appeared to be oblivious to his audience at times, completely into the act of making his guitar

sing, pulling his listeners in with him. Even with all of the tricks he could pull off, Hendrix did

not come off as arrogant in negative way; rather, he was composed, focused, and brilliant. Being

confident without being a braggart is a tough act to pull off. Hendrix had that perfect balance of

inviting the listener in, entrancing and amazing him, while making him feel at ease.

As a lover of fashion, myself, I cannot fail to mention the inspirational stylings of

Hendrix. The mix of rich textures with vibrant colors was texturally appealing. He would wear

military jackets, silk patterns, and fur trimmed pieces with a flair and panache perfect for his

image. Many images of Hendrix feature his black hat, worn with a tilt as if to emulate the

gangsters of the 1940’s era. He was not restricted to norms for race, sex, or culture. Hendrix

seemed to know what worked for him, and always managed to pull it off. Who doesn’t want to

completely be himself and do it beautifully?

Jimi Hendrix died in 1969, so I obviously never knew him personally, yet what I do know

of his legacy inspires and influences me daily. Many young adults rebel for the sake of it; some

want to break down walls simply because they are there. Hendrix seemed to challenge

predominant methods not to be contrary, but to see if there could be a better way. He used any

tool available to him to create something new. Self-confidence is something I constantly try to

achieve; Hendrix’s stage performances epitomize the kind of understated self-assuredness that I

marvel at. If I could dress like anyone, it would be Hendrix. No one could replicate his look, but
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the freedom and fun he had with fashion is very motivational. No one could say Hendrix was not

unique. Some could see him a rebel, but I see Hendrix as an innovator, a pioneer, and an

inspiration.