Between 1966 and 1970, two rock musicians rose from unlikely origins to superstardom after years of hardship and struggle. Each created explosive, remarkable bodies of work in just four years before dying only weeks apart. Combining a wealth of film and audio clips with expert commentary, “Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin: Psychedelic Trailblazers” celebrates the music and lives of these icons. The first half of the course will focus on Hendrix, from his roots in blues and soul through his transformation into rock’s most creative guitarist with his underrated first-class compositions and engaging vocals. The second half of the course is devoted to Joplin, who underwent her own metamorphosis from scuffling folk-blues beatnik to electrifying singer, forever changing the image of rock ’n’ roll frontwomen. Students may participate in this class either online or in person.
