Hendrix: Everything but the Guitar

When you think of Jimi Hendrix, you think of the guitar. Since the 1960s he’s consistently topped polls of the greatest guitarist of all time. But there are so many other remarkable layers to this man and musician. On what would have been his 80th birthday, fans from music, literature and academia weigh up all of the other things that should be celebrated about Jimi, but so often aren’t: Leon Hendrix remembers his big brother as a spiritual force. Professor Paul Gilroy analyses Jimi’s commitment to peace. Kronos Quartet violinist David Harrington discusses Jimi the composer. The Happy Mondays vocalist Rowetta appreciates Jimi the singer. Poet and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib unpicks Jimi’s approach to wordplay. And author and academic Sarita Cannon evaluates Jimi as a mixed heritage icon. Meanwhile, 1960s archive interviews from Hendrix give us a fresh perspective on the man himself. Narrator: Cerys Matthews Producer: Redzi Bernard Executive Producer: Jack Howson Sound Mix: Olga Reed A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 4