Hey everyone!
Yes, I know It Was Yesterday - I didn't have this ready yesterday, but I do now 😁

I was going to title this "Confessions of a Jimi Hendrix Fiend," but that sounded a little strong 😀 I'm sure there are people, followers, collectors of Jimi Hendrix, who are way more intense than I am.

I Was Not Always a Jimi Hendrix Fan

As far back as I can remember, I loved music. Although I wasn't a fan of Hendrix in the beginning, it had nothing to do with not liking his music. I actually had not heard him until I started playing guitar in my teens. In my younger years, I listened to artists from Stax, Mowtown etc. I was not even aware of Jimi, or even other blues artists like Albert King, Freddy King, or BB King.

When I started playing guitar, however, I did finally start exploring Jimi's music and guitar playing. To this day I am still amazed by his soulful playing, and his depth of songwriting. Over the years, I have tried to collect everything I could that pertains to his life, and music. I think I found some gems too. 😊

Lessons From Jimi

Besides an unending wealth of guitar playing ideas, here are some inspirational life lessons from the Master.

• Learn and incorporate bits and pieces from your mentors (or heroes) then forge something new.
  Howlin' Wolf and Bob Dylan? Who would've thought?

• Be driven and passionate about your undertaking.
  One look at a performance from a bluesman, and you can see it. They feel every single note. They are not disconnected from the instrument, nor are they disconnected from the trials that created such emotional playing.

• Don't focus all of your energy on the tools, focus it on the house.
  I don't recall Hendrix ever mentioning his guitars, amps, pedals, picks, etc. Maybe he did, and I am just not aware of it. Even so, it was not his focus, everything was about the music - the end game.

• Use the bad circumstances in life as fuel.
  This one was a tough one for me to accept (still is). Those of you who have been reading my blogs may remember my mentioning that it was extremely hard getting to this point in my life. But, then I think of all the heroes I have in the blues and their stories. Take BB King, for instance. If you have seen the documentary, "The Life of Riley," you immediately understand his blues. You immediately understand where his sound comes from. In Jimi's case, he has a Bluesman's Story as well. I won't give it away, but do watch the documentary "Hear My Train A Comin' . You'll hear his life in his music.

In fact, that's a great quote, I think I'll use it. 😊

"You'll hear my life in my music."

Let's Do Something Great Today! ✌🏾