Musical Memory Spark-Jimi Hendrix
I read on Twitter that it was on this day in 1967 that Jimi Hendrix began recording “Purple Haze’ in London.
Boy, that gave me a “Musical Memory Spark.”
Have you had one of those? A “Musical Memory Spark” as I like to call it, happens when you are reading about an artist or hearing a song you haven’t heard in a long time and suddenly you’re transported back to that moment when you FIRST heard it..or it really started to resonate with you.
A good memory hopefully…sparked by music. Another example-last week I heard the news that Gerry Rafferty had died, and I was transported back to those days cranking out the “Baker Street” 45 on my old K-mart turntable.
Hence-“Musical Memory Spark” I really should trademark that.
The first time I really heard Jimi Hendrix and connected with his music was at a retreat for catechism class. As a recovering catholic-I went through the whole rigmarole of confirmation, I think it was 6th or 7th grade.
Anyways, I’m out in the boonies somewhere for this weekend of catholic teachings. But I got an education of another sort, a musical awaking if you will…. something that has never left me. The memory of a good jam and the first time I heard it. I can smell the campfire, hear the bugs buzzing, and feel the rusting swing chains gripped tightly in my hands.
I had snuck out with some kid for a smoke, started swinging on the swings and someone brought out their jam box loaded with Jimi. (And Rainbow too, I went through a whole Ritchie Blackmore phase for a while, that’s another tale)
Jimi Hendrix just blew my mind. I hadn’t heard him much before that. I knew who he was, and as a Prince fan, I knew that his “Purpleness” got some of his vibe from Jimi. I could see why, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I live in his hometown now and I often flashback to that fateful night when there’s a blurb on the news somewhere about him.
I just realized my mother would not be happy if she found out THAT’s all I got out of the church retreat, ha ha.
Thanks to History By Day, who I follow on Twitter @historyday for the seed for today’s post. Sometimes, that’s all it takes, you just have to take the time to make it grow. 
Got any Musical Memory Sparks you wanna share??
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