Table of Contents: Background Information Education Goals Exhibition Walkthrough Extension Resources Background Information Hear My Train a Comin’: Hendrix Hits London The purpose of this guide is to present questions and offer information that help lead students through the exhibition and instigate a conversation about the dynamic themes highlighted therein. Hear My Train a Comin’: Hendrix Hits London delves deep into one of the most important and formative time periods in Jimi Hendrix’s career. During a nine-month period beginning in September 1966, Hendrix released three hit singles, an iconic debut album, and transformed into one of the most popular performers in the British popular music scene. In June 1967 he returned to America a superstar. This new exhibition furthers EMP Museum’s ongoing efforts to explore, interpret, and illuminate the life, career, and legacy of Jimi Hendrix. Before its installation in Seattle, Hear My Train a Comin’: Hendrix Hits London debuted at the Hospital Club, a creative exhibition facility and private club located in the heart of London. The show was on view in the UK for two months before returning to the US. While the overall theme remains the same, EMP sought to convey the look and feel of swinging London with the addition of richly patterned wall fabrics evocative of the era, interactive elements, and a chronological large-scale concert map. Hendrix: Biographical Information Students may benefit from a discussion of Hendrix’s personal history prior to the period covered in the exhibition. Born in Seattle on November 27, 1942 Attended Horace Mann Elementary School, Washington Junior High School, and Garfield High School Interested in music from a young age, Hendrix used to pretend to play the guitar with a broom before upgrading to a one string ukulele, and eventually an acoustic guitar Was in bands off and on throughout his teens On May 31, 1961, one year before the Seattle World’s Fair, Hendrix enlisted in the Army and joined the 101st Airborne Division While in the army he met bassist Billy Cox The army wasn’t really Hendrix’s thing—after a year of service he was given an honorable discharge While in the army Hendrix and Billy Cox formed a group known as the King Kasuals After being discharged from the army Hendrix and Billy Cox traveled all over the southeast on the "chitlin' circuit," a series of venues in the southeastern United States considered safe for African Americans during the period of racial segregation During this time Hendrix played with Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, the Isley Brothers, Little Richard, and many others By 1966 Hendrix was playing in Greenwich Village and struggling to find an audience with his group Jimmy James and the Blue Flames. During this period he met Chas Chandler (former bassist of the Animals) who promised he could make Hendrix a star if he moved to England Hendrix agreed to follow Chandler’s advice on one condition: that Chandler introduce him to British guitar legends Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton The Music of Hendrix Influences The blues influence on Hendrix’s style is pronounced in much of his music. Growing up, Hendrix had a wide variety of musical idols. Blues artists such as Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, and Chuck Berry had an early influence on the guitarist. Primarily self-taught, Hendrix often learned to play songs by ear from listening to the radio or a record. His father owned many 45 records. Below are some of the records that Hendrix would likely have listened to: Etta James, “Don't Cry Baby” / “Sunday Kind of Love” James Brown with the Famous Flames, “Please, Please, Please” / “Why Do You Do Me” Frankie Ford, “You Talk Too Much” / “You've Got Troubles” Bobby Bland, “Saint James Infirmary” / ”Don't Cry No More” Jimmy Smith, “I Got a Woman” / ”Alfredo” Lloyd Price, “You Need Love” / “Stagger Lee” The Coasters, “Poison Ivy” / “I'm a Hog for You” The Imperials, “Tears on My Pillow” / “Two People in the World” The Wailers, “Velva” / “Mashi” Jimmy Forrest, “Remember“ / “Bolo Blues” Little Richard, “By the Light of the Silver Moon” / “Wondering” Ray Bryant Combo, “Sack o' Woe” / “Walk No More" The Crests, “16 Candles” / “Beside You” Hendrix and the Blues Previous to his time in London, Hendrix spent about two years playing in the southern US playing back-up for various musicians. It was on the chitlin' circuit, immersed in soul, R&B, and blues, where Hendrix refined his distinctive style. In the early 1960s blues and R&B were mainly associated with “black music” in the US. Coincidentally, Hendrix left for London at a time when American blues was peaking in popularity in the UK. The blues Hendrix experienced and performed on the chitlin’ circuit was being heavily utilized by different British musicians. American blues artists such as Robert Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Muddy Waters, among others were a huge influence on musicians such as Eric Clapton and Keith Richards. This undoubtedly helped in Hendrix’s introduction to the London music scene. Hendrix and Composition Hendrix is known for his compositional flavor especially in his guitar solos. Important distinctions of Hendrix’s music include his use of double stops/two note hammers, vibrato, effects, and plenty of feedback. He also utilized very inventive chord choices for a rock guitarist, specifically, the use of dominant 7 sharp 9th chords, which have a very heavy, sad, or tense sound. Hendrix’s use of this chord led it to become known as the ‘Hendrix chord.’ Examples of the ‘Hendrix chord’ include the E7#9 used in “Purple Haze.” 2 Education Goals Visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the inspirations, personal history, career, and legacy of Jimi Hendrix. Learning Objective Areas: o Hendrix Hits London . Explore creative moments in Hendrix’s career during the time period 1966–1967 . Trace the evolution of how an anonymous everyman became one of the most unique and influential characters in the history of popular music . Discover how the city of London—its unique character, cosmopolitan nature, deep historical roots, and diverse music scene—influenced Hendrix o Changing Social Climates . Examine the public reception to Hendrix and his music during a time of rapid societal change . Investigate how popular trends, aka “the scene,” shifted in London from Dandy to Hippie and from British blues and R&B to psychedelia . Trace how these changes are reflected in both the US and abroad Suggested subject area connections: o History . Research world events during the time period 1966–1967 . What issues were the US and the UK facing? . In what ways might the political climate have affected popular music themes at this time? o Social Studies . Investigate watershed events in the civil rights movement taking place in the US and how these events resonated in the UK . Investigate Hendrix’s career pre-London. How did perception of him in the US and the venues he played (for example his time on the “chitlin circuit”) differ from his experience in the UK? o Visual Arts . Observe the shifting fashion in London during the late 60s. Describe the defining features of each style such as mod, dandy, military revival, and emerging hippie fashion. Discuss various popular fashion trends. What factors contribute to certain styles gaining in popularity while others die out? . Design your own updated fashion style reminiscent of those popular in London during this time. o Language Arts and Writing . Read examples of Hendrix’s lyrics. What adjectives would you use to describe his style? . Review the connections between poetry and songwriting. What are some similarities and differences? o Mathematics . Examine the formula behind the fret distribution of the electric guitar to ensure its intonation . Observe the changes in frequency for a given note, its octave, perfect fifth, and major third. How can this be expressed by a mathematical ratio? 3 How does a museum exhibition take shape? Similar to a theatre production or a feature film, museum exhibitions require a creative team of highly-skilled people working together to complete the many facets of the project. Listed below is a selection of jobs integral to creating a new exhibition, and descriptions of their role in the creative process. o Curator: Oversees the overall creative direction, writes the narrative, selects and sources artifacts, and represents the exhibition to the press and public. The curator’s artistry is in choice, what they focus on to tell a particular story through artifacts, film, media, and interactive experiences, and oral histories that lead the audience into specific areas of exploration within the chosen themes of the exhibition. o Exhibit Designer: Develops the physical exhibition components and gallery layout to best reflect the narrative and tone of the exhibition. With the curator, the designer makes choices about the colors and materials to be used as well as the look and feel of the exhibition. o Sound Designer: Creates audio and or musical accompaniment for the exhibition. o Exhibitions Manager: Plans and oversees the design, fabrication, and installation of the exhibition. o Fabricator: Artifacts come in all difference shapes and sizes. From flying V guitars to flying saucers, fabricators create custom mannequins used to display costumes, custom casework, and displays for EMP’s unique collection. o Graphic Designer: Responsible for creating the many visuals, logos, and text panels you see in the exhibit including choice and size of fonts, taking into account practical questions as to audience appeal and how appropriate the style is for a particular exhibition. o Preparator: Creates, mounts, and installs artifacts safely within the exhibition. o Registrar: Tracks the artifacts in the exhibition, and ensures that they are properly stored and displayed to avoid damage.