Though most people remember Jimi Hendrix for his music and drug use, his cousin said he remembers him as a jokester.
"People try to portray him as dark and serious," Bob Hendrix said. "He loved to crack jokes and was always laughing. He would always bring out the lighter side in the recording studio."
Hendrix, first cousin to Jimi, presented a 40-minute film documentary on Jimi, which was followed by a question and answer session. The program, which is part of the Red House Tour, was Thursday night at Pruis Hall.
The tour is run by Jimi's family, who wanted to keep his legacy alive, Bob said.
Jimi Hendrix, who broke out onto the music scene in 1967, is legendary for his guitar playing.
"He was about the music," Bob said. "Everything he was, he put into the music."
According to the film, Jimi got his first guitar as a child. He never learned to read music.
Instead, he would listen to his father's records of B.B. King and Muddy Waters and imitate their songs, Bob said.
Jimi always concentrated on the music, he said.
"We got our guitars at the same time, and he played because he wanted to," Bob said. "I put mine down after I saw him play."
Jimi's dedication to music continued on throughout his life. Though he only recorded for four years, he made five albums.
According to the film, he would work in the studio any time he could during a two-year tour.
Bob said Jimi always knew he would succeed.
"He knew he was going to be good because he devoted his whole life to music," he said.
Bob said though Jimi did become internationally famous, he never let it go to his head.
"He was very human; he never put on airs," Bob said.
While most people think Jimi died in 1970 of a drug overdose, that isn't quite true, he said.
Bob said that Jimi mixed four prescription sleeping pills with alcohol, unaware that this mix was dangerous, and died choking on his vomit.
"The doctors found no other drugs in him," Bob said.
Many students came because of their love for Jimi.
"He's a god; he's so good at the guitar," sophomore Ashley Kimmel said. "I feel like I learned a lot about him."
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