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This article explores aspects of the life and character of electric guitarist Jimi Hendrix based on the review of literature on gifted achievers and Dabrowski's theory on developmental potential in the gifted. The influential environmental and personality factors in the development of Hendrix's musical gift, including the role played by imagination and autodidactism with reference to Vygotky's theory on play, are a primary focus. Issues raised include the value of different musical education forms as they relate to the varieties of musical expression, and the usefulness of motivational and creative attributes as indicators of gifted potential.
We sat there in the gloom, feeling strong and lucky, knowing that under the hype and the bullshit there had been a genius all along. (Germaine Greer describing a performance by Jimi Hendrix shortly before his death [1986, p. 44])
While acknowledging the importance of concurrent and predictive studies of gifted development in children and adolescents, many in the field also point to the value of retrospective biographical study of recognized achievers for greater understanding of factors underlying the development of gifted creativity (Feldhusen, 1986; Gruber, 1982, 1986;
Simonton, 1998). Such studies have found that creative gifted achievers frequently share intellectual and motivational attributes and even background characteristics and life experiences. These findings provide clues to personal qualities and environmental conditions associated with the successful development of gifted potential, and may also provide insights into the relationship between giftedness and creativity. This article applies the retrospective method to the life of electric guitarist Jimi Hendrix. It argues that beyond his popularly received image as decadent rock star was a highly creative, gifted musician, and a personality that aligns with those described in the review of literature on eminent achievers. It also considers some of the personal attributes and environmental factors that figured prominently in his musical development.
While few would deny that Jimi Hendrix had talent-he is widely regarded as rock music's greatest instrumentalist (Heatley, 1997; Shapiro & Glebbeek, 1994; Shaar Murray, 1990)there is the matter of the "Hendrix Image," summed up here by Charles Shaar Murray:
The "authorized version" of the Jimi Hendrix experience (sic) is that Hendrix was a crazy black man who did funny things with a guitar, had thousands of women and eventually...