MASTER JIMI HENDRIX "HEAR MY TRAIN A COMIN"

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THE GLORIOUS CORNER

By: G. H. Harding
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LL Cool J




JIMI LIVES --- A pioneering electric guitarist, Jimi Hendrix (Nov. 27, 1942-Sept. 18, 1970) had only four years of mainstream exposure and recognition, but his influential music and riveting stage presence left an enduring legacy. Thirteen’s American Masters series traces the gone-too-soon guitar great’s remarkable journey from his humble beginnings in Seattle, through his stint as a U.S. Army paratrooper, unknown sideman to R&B stars such as Little Richard, Joey Dee and the Isley Brothers, and his discovery and ultimate international stardom.



American Masters: Jimi Hendrix – Hear My Train A Comin’ premieres nationally Tuesday, November 5, 2013, 9 – 11 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings or pbs.org/americanmasters).



The same day, Experience Hendrix and Legacy Recordings, will release the expanded home video edition of the American Masters documentary, with never-before-released special performance features, on DVD and Blu-ray.



Hear My Train A Comin’ unveils previously unseen performance footage and home movies taken by Hendrix and drummer Mitch Mitchell while sourcing an extensive archive of photographs, drawings, family letters and more to provide new insight into the musician’s personality and genius.



Recently uncovered film footage of Hendrix at the 1968 Miami Pop Festival is among the previously unseen treasures featured in the documentary.



Additionally, a CD and limited edition vinyl set of Jimi Hendrix Experience: Miami Pop Festival, the first-ever release of one of the guitar virtuoso’s most sought-after performances, will also be released November 5.



The first-ever major rock festival staged on the East Coast, the May 1968 Miami Pop Festival at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla., was the first event promoted by Woodstock organizer Michael Lang and Ric O’Barry (dolphin trainer for Flipper TV series), who were inspired by the June 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, where Hendrix made his U.S. debut and famously set fire to his guitar.



Presented as part of a year-long celebration around Hendrix’s 70th birthday year, American Masters: Jimi Hendrix – Hear My Train A Comin’ uses Hendrix’s own words to tell his story, illustrated through archival interviews and illuminated with commentary from family, well-known friends and musicians, including Paul McCartney, band members Noel Redding, Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cox, long-time sound engineer Eddie Kramer, Steve Winwood, Vernon Reid, Billy Gibbons, Dweezil Zappa and Dave Mason.



The film also features revealing glimpses into Hendrix and his era through interviews with the three women closest to him: Linda Keith (the girlfriend who introduced Jimi to future manager Chas Chandler), Fayne Pridgon (who befriended Hendrix in Harlem in the early 1960's) and Colette Mimram (one of the era’s most influential fashion trendsetters who provided inspiration for Hendrix’s signature look and created such memorable stage costumes as the beaded jacket he wore at Woodstock).



Two-time Grammy-winning director Bob Smeaton, whose credits include Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child, Hendrix: Band of Gypsys, Hendrix 70: Live at Woodstock, Festival Express and The Beatles Anthology, shows a side of Hendrix less frequently explored.



Smeaton explains, “Jimi loved two things: women and playing guitar and that’s what Linda, Faye and Colette all told us. These women shed a totally different light on him than the guys who saw him onstage.”



XM's Brett Winterble exclusively interviews Smeaton tonight on his show.



ROCK & ROLL DAYDREAM – The voters have spoken and last night it was announced that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has finally acknowledged the 70’s. Their new list of possible new inductees includes Hall & Oates and Linda Ronstadt.



Seattle’s Nirvana will also be up for induction. Other nominees include The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Yes, Link Wray, The Zombies, The Replacements, Cat Stevens, KISS, LL Cool J, The Meters, Chic, Deep Purple, and Peter Gabriel.



Left at the altar yet again: Sting, Bon Jovi, Chicago, The Moody Blues, Carly Simon, the late Billy Preston, Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, The Monkees, Todd Rundgren, and Sonny & Cher, and so on.



This year the public can vote along with the 600 members of the Rock Hall. I'm not sure it would count, but it can't hurt.


Rebecca Holden And Abraham McDonald






CLOSING NOTES --- Rockers On Broadway turns 20 – the unique annual event featuring Broadway’s finest talent performing the best of rock, pop and soul, will be performing their next event at NYC ‘s Le Poisson Rouge (the old Village Gate) in downtown New York, on Monday, November 11.



The format will be 20 of the best numbers from its first two decades of shows.



This year’s event is significant because it honors two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff and rock legend Pete Townshend, the visionaries behind the award winning production of The Who’s TOMMY, the groundbreaking musical that truly brought rock & roll to Broadway and inspired cast member Donnie Kehr to create this highly anticipated event.



Also slated to appear are: Preston Truman Boyd (Big Fish); Tituss Burgess (The Little Mermaid/Jersey Boys); Eden Espinosa (Wicked/Brooklyn/Rent); John Arthur Green (Matilda/West Side Story); Emma Hunton (Next To Normal/Spring Awakenings) … I've been re-visiting the DVD of Duran Duran/Diamond In The Mind and am just loving in. One of the so-called New Romantic bands that actually still exist, their performances and songs are just exquisite. Am particularly loving the songs "The Reflex," "All You Need Is Now," "Reach Up for The Sunrise," and, "Notorious.' Simon Le Bon's voice is still magical. A great visit yet again ... One more TV note: CBS' The Mentalist, which looks to be finally wrapping up it's Red John arc this year, is just terrific. Simon Baker as Patrick Jane is better than ever. All in all, it has been a great series ... Right now, in Nashville, producer Joel Diamond (with video-wizard Jimmy Adams) are shooting the video for Rebecca Holden and Abraham McDonald's "Dreams Come True." 




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