The Legend of Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix is the greatest musician ever. He play Guitar, a songwriter and a singer. Hendrix's music is timeless and spans various genres, from rock to soul, blues to pop, jazz to rap. Jimi Hendrix has influenced modern musician in many aspects with his talent and style.

Jimi Hendrix was born Johnny Allen Hendrix at Seattle's King County Hospital on November 27, 1942 at 10:15 a.m. As a young child, Jimmy (as he was called by his family) loved to listen to his father's R&B and blues records and he soon became very interested in music.

Learning to play guitar as a teenager, Hendrix grew up to become a rock guitar legend. He began his career by playing in a number of bands in his youth. Hendrix later enlisted in the United States Army in 1961 and became as a paratrooper. Even as a soldier, Hendrix found time for music, creating a band named The King Casuals. He served in the army until 1965.

In 1966, Jimmy formed a band, in which he played guitar and sang, in the Village. His band was popular and played regularly in Greenwich Village, which led to his meeting with Chas Chandler, the former bass player for the Animals. Chandler saw Hendrix play and was very impressed and at the end of the show He convinced Hendrix to go to London where he joined forces with musicians Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell to create The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience became a sensation in England and their next releases "Wind Cries Mary" and "Purple Haze" were hits. In May of 1967, "Are You Experienced?" was released and stayed at number two on the charts for the rest of the year. The Jimi Hendrix Experience's fame kept rising and in December of 1967, they released their third album, Axis: Bold as Love. His final album as part of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Electric Ladyland (1968) was released and featured the hit “All Along the Watchtower,” which was written by Bob Dylan. The band continued to tour until it split up in 1969.

In 1969, Hendrix performed at legendary musical event, the Woodstock Festival. His rock rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” amazed the crowds and demonstrated his considerable talents as a musician. He was also an accomplished songwriter and musical experimenter.

A few months later, Mitchell and Redding both quit the band, but this did not stop Jimi. He quickly found a six-piece band with Mitchell and formed the Band of Gypsys. They went on to play at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in New York. Once again Jimi performed a stunt for the crowd, this time playing a mangled version of "The Star Spangled Banner."

In August of 1970, Jimi halted production of two albums, one a jazz collaboration with Gil Evans and "The First Ray of the New Rising Sun", to tour in Europe.

On the night of August 17, Jimi took some sleeping pills, hoping to sleep through the next day. Jimi had also been drinking and during the night he vomited, but did not wake up due to the pills he had taken. Jimi was dead at the age of 27. The world since had been missing a great musician and we are left only to speculate what music could have been.

Led Zeppelin : The Biggest Rock Band Ever

Led Zeppelin is the biggest rock n roll band ever. They became a legendary band that influenced the forthcoming generations of hard rock, heavy rock, heavy metal, progressive rock, punk rock and alternative rock musicians. Led Zeppelin were formed in 1968 by Jimmy Page (guitar), Robert Plan (vocals), John Paul Jones (bass guitar, keyboards) and John Bohnam (drums). Led Zeppelin's first album was released in January 1969, shortly after their first tour and it was a powerful combination blues, rock n' roll and boogie influences. Led Zeppelin built the foundations of the hard rock and heavy rock music for the forthcomming decades. The album also featured English folk acoustic masterpieces. Led Zeppelin first album was released by the Atlantic Records in 1969.

In the same year Led Zeppelin released the second album "Led Zeppelin II",which included the all time rock classic "Whole Lotta Love". When the Led Zeppelin II was released, it was Atlantic Records’ fastest selling album at 100,000 copies a week.

In 1970, the band retired to a remote cottage in Wales called Bron-Yr-Aur for the writing of their third album "Led Zeppelin III", which was released that same year. Led Zeppelin had been confirmed as one of the most powerful and creative groups in the history of rock music as a live and studio band. In November 1971, the band released their fourth album "Led Zeppelin IV". This fourth album is considered as one of the top albums in the history of rock music and includes the all time classic "Stairway to Heaven".In 1975 Led Zeppelin released the double album "Physical Graffiti" in their new label (Swan Song). The name of Led Zeppelin started being associated in the press where reality and legend where mixed with stories about trashed hotel rooms, groupies, drugs, alcohol and the involvement of Jimmy Page into esoteric and black magic practises.The Presence(1976) and In Though the Out Door(1979) proved to be the last Led Zeppelin albums that were produced. John Bonham was found dead at the home of Jimmy Page on the 25 of September in 1980. After this tragic loss the band announced that they could not play any longer. The album entitled Coda was an unreleased set of recordings and out takes which was released in 1982.

Even in to the 1990’s the music that was produced in the early days of Led Zeppelin is still being played and loved. The music that they play is very persuasive and as popular as before. Even though they broke up ten years ago you would not know they broke because of the way that they are played on the radio. Zeppelin was played fortheir fans and followers.

In 1995, the three members joined at a party when the band inducted the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and jammed along with Joe Perry, Steven Tyler and Neil Young. In 2005, Led Zeppelin received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and were ranked #1 in US cable channel VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock special.

Stevie Ray Vaughan

It cannot be denied that Stevie Ray Vaughan is one of the best guitarist ever..In 2003, RollingStone magazine ranked Stevie Ray Vaughan #7 in their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Stevie Ray Vaughan was born and grew up in Dallas, Texas on 3 October 1954. He learned to play the guitar as a kid, influenced by his older brother, guitarist Jimmie Vaughan. He was dropped out from his High School in 1972 and playing blues guitar in bands in Austin, Texas.

His first album "Texas Flood" was released in 1983. Receiving positive reviews in both blues and rock publications and reaching number 38 on the charts. Stevie Ray and His band "Double Trouble" set off on a successful tour and many radio sation plays their song.

Their second album, "Couldn't Stand the Weather", which was released in May of 1984was more successful then their first album. In this year, Stevie and Double Trouble made numerous TV appearances, performing on Rockpalast, MuchMusic, and Solid Gold. In November, Vaughan won two W.C. Handy National Blues Awards: "Entertainer of the Year" and "Blues Instrumentalist of the Year".

The Third album "Soul to Soul" was recorded on 1985 and was also quite successful, reaching number 34 on the charts. Stevie received his fifth Grammy nomination: "Best Rock Instrumental Performance" for one of its songs, "Say What!". Although his professional career was soaring, Stevie was sinking deep into drug addiction and alcoholism. Despite his declining health, Vaughan continued to push himself, releasing the double live album Live Alive in October of 1986 and launching an extensive American tour in early 1987.

In 1988 Stevie and Double Trouble recorded "In Step" as their fourth studio album and praised by some as the band's best work since Texas Flood. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album. In the spring of 1990, Stevie Ray recorded an album with his brother Jimmie Vaughan which was scheduled for release in the fall of the year.

On August 26, 1990, their East Troy, WI, gig concluded with an encore jam featuring guitarists Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan, and Robert Cray. After the concert, Stevie Ray boarded a helicopter bound for Chicago. Minutes after its 12:30 a.m. takeoff, the helicopter crashed, killing Vaughan and the other four passengers. He died so young,only 35 years old. Many people cannot believe that they just loss one of the best guitarist.

"Family Style", Stevie Ray's duet album with Jimmie, appeared in October and entered the charts at number seven. Family Style began a series of posthumous releases that were as popular as the albums Vaughan released during his lifetime.

"The Sky Is Crying", was the first of several posthumous Stevie releases to achieve chart success, was released in October of 1991; it entered the charts at number ten and went platinum three months after its release.

After His death, many musician record song to remembrance of Stevie Ray Vaughan. One of them is Steve Vai and Eric Johnson.

In 1991, The Texas Government announced that 3 Oktober or Stevie Ray's birthday become "Stevie Ray Vaughan Day". An annual motorcycle ride and concert in Central Texas benefits the Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Scholarship Fund.

In 1992, the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation released the Stevie Ray Vaughan Signature Stratocaster.

In 1994, Austin citizen erected the Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Statue at Auditorium Shores on Ladybird Lake, the site of a number of Vaughan's concerts.

In 2007, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation released a second tribute to Stevie, an exact replica of his second beloved guitar "Lenny". Lenny is the name of his wife (Leonora). Leonora give Stevie this guitar on His 26 birthday.

In 2008, Stevie Ray Vaughan will become eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Future Rock Hall entry for Stevie Ray Vaughan

The last guitar that Vaughan had played before his death is on display in the Hard Rock Cafe in Gatlinburg.