- Welcome back.
I'm here with Flula Borg from the "Suicide Squad".
Give it up! (audience applauding)
- Oh hello. - I liked your moves.
- Thank you
very much Kelly Clarkson. - It was nice. It was nice.
Well, it's been more than 50 years since music legend
Jimmy Hendrix died.
To this day he's remembered as one of the most creative
and influential musicians of our time.
Now his niece is determined to continue his legacy.
She launched a music academy in Seattle
that not only gives free music lessons and instruments
to hundreds of underserved kids,
the program also provides life lessons and resources.
Let's welcome the founder of The Hendricks Music Academy,
(clapping) Tina Hendrix everybody.
(audience applauding)
First of all, you look so rock and roll,
like if somebody were like,
"What is Jimmy Hendrix's niece look like?"
This is what I'd picture like (laughing).
- Oh my God! Thank you so much.
- What is it like, do people just, I mean, I know you've had
to answer this question a billion times in your life,
but it's just so crazy 'cause your uncle was
he's such a legend, - Yeah.
- like into so many people.
Like even I'm not a guitarist, but I'm a vocalist.
And I love him, like, I love his songs.
I love the soul in it, like do you...
What was it like to be the niece of such a legend?
- Oh man, like growing up,
he's my dad's brother. - Yeah.
- So we would just...
My dad would always play his music in the house.
- Yeah. - He'd always take us up to
the grave all the time, tell us wonderful stories about him.
Bedtime stories every night.
So it was kind of like he was a hero.
- Yeah. - And then when we got older
we realized just how important he was to the world.
And it was like, "Wow. Oh my gosh."
- Yeah. - We have to definitely
fulfill our potential because we're Hendrixs,
so it's a lot to live up to, but it's amazing.
He's an inspiration.
- Yeah. - Yeah.
- So Tina what made you decide to launch a music academy
in his honor?
- Well, I live in Seattle where Jimmy and my dad grew up
and there's a lot of problems for kids there.
There's a lot of poverty and homelessness and stuff
and they kind of grew up in that too.
So I'd be just riding down the street on my way home
and I'd see kids like hanging out on the streets
and I'm like, "Look at those poor kids,
they need something to do.
They're just out there with nothing.
They're gonna get in trouble."
And I just kept passing those kids every day
and after a while I was like, "Can...
Somebody should do something about this.
Somebody should do something to these kids."
Then it was like, "Wait a minute. I can do something.
I can invite them over to my studio,
give them some music lessons
and just get them off the streets."
- Yeah. - So basically,
I just invited a group of kids over
that were hanging out in the streets,
brought them into the studio.
I mean, their eyes lit up.
It was like a whole nother world to them.
They started writing music recording
and then they started bringing their friends,
it got really big so I, I got my friends help.
I said, "Look, guys, this is getting big.
I got so many kids here. I need help."
So my friends and some Jimmy fans said,
"We should organize this into a charity."
And so I said, "Yeah."
So we organize it into a charity
to make sure we can keep helping kids
and keep expanding our programs.
So yeah, that's pretty much how it started (laughing).
- What a beautiful way to start it though, like,
I think we do that a lot, we're like, "Oh man
somebody should do something," but then it's like,
"Well I could be that somebody to do that."
And then how it started so organically is such a small group
and then it's become this
- Yeah. - big thing
that's really making a huge impact in the community.
That's a beautiful thing to be a part of.
So can you tell us what the program looks like today?
It's obviously evolved.
- Yes. So today the kids come...
We work with kids from all walks of life, from age 5 to 21
and some of the kids are coming from inner city.
Some of them are coming from rural areas
that they don't have a lot of exposure
with other kinds of cultures or people.
So we open our doors to everybody that wants to be involved
with the community and music.
And so we started out with just a band and rock and roll
and then we expanded, we added a hip hop program
we added a music production and an orchestra.
So I played violin. So I teach orchestra.
And it's just really cool to see it evolve.
Like I said, we started with one room
just bringing the kids in the studio,
letting them do their thing and then it got so big
and that's such important work.
So I'm just honored to be part of it.
And if I can help as many kids as I can, then I feel like
I was worth the oxygen I was taken up so (giggling)-
- (laughing) I love that.
And I agree though.
I was, I mean, I'm from a small town and it's like,
not many things to do there, but get in trouble
if you don't have like something to do that's productive.
I feel like music really helped me.
It also, I wasn't, I was like an average student
like I made all right grades, but it made, it pushed me.
I wasn't allowed to do any of the programs
unless I made good grades.
If I wanted to sing or if I wanted to play sports.
And so those activities really helped me
become a better version of myself.
I know you're a musical as well.
- Oh yes. - Do you feel like
when you were a kid like it really helped?
It helped me find my personality.
- Oh big time, I would play the trombone
and people would stare at me.
And that was a great time. (Kelly laughing)
I was like, "Oh, I should probably do this better.".
So I know I've been quite, it's because
I'm surrounded by two Foxy ladies.
(Kelly and Tina laughing) - I get it. I get it.
- Good one. - Nicely done. A pun, a pun.
No, but I just love that we're all sitting here.
We're all, we all have to be musical as well.
Cause Tina is committed to carrying on her uncle's legacy
by providing free music lessons to the kids in Seattle.
So I want to bring in two graduates
of the Hendrix Music Academy.
They are truly in Testament to the school's success.
Say hi to sister and brother Aleia and Joziah.
(All applauding)
So Aleia, you were having a difficult time
before the program, right? - Yeah.
Prior to starting at the Hendrix Music Academy,
I was experiencing a lot of bullying in school.
Hoo I'm going to get choked up talking about it.
- It's okay. I cry all the time here.
- Oh my God. I cry a lot in my life.
I experienced a lot of cyber bullying,
- Yeah. - death threats.
- Wow. - Mm hmm. And so, um,
I was really going through a mentally, and emotionally
and Ms. Tina came in like an angel and she encouraged me to
try something new, to build myself back up.
And especially being 13 when I started is such a tender age
and I'm just being bullied. - Yeah.
- So just having a safe space to be creative
and all of that, that's what I enjoyed about the academy.
- Oh my God 13 is a hard age.
Junior high in general just sucks.
- Yeah. - Look forward to it Joziah.
Or you might be in it right now, actually.
(all laughing) So we'll, I'll pray for you.
Joziah so how did you get into Tina's program?
Was it because you saw your sister?
- So actually in first grade
my best friend actually told me about the academy.
And so I went along with him and I told miss Tina
how I play the Chinese drums and how I really like music.
And I've been going ever since I was seven so.
- Oh my God. - Yeah, a long time.
- So wait, did you go first? - He went first.
- You went first? - Yeah. Yeah.
- I thought it was the other way around that you showed him.
Wow. Way to go young man. (Aleia laughing)
All right. All right. - Yeah.
- So how did you make it into Tina's program?
Like what did you, what-
- Well for me, since he started first, I...
We kind of developed a friendship, me and Ms. Tina.
And so she knew everything that was going on in my life.
And I was literally so mentally distraught
and she felt that, so she encouraged me to come
and just join and she recruited me to try
to find a new passion to help me get out of the funk
that I was in and- - Yeah.
- And then I started playing the drums
and then she taught me ukulele
and then I moved on to the guitar.
So it was really something new for me and I loved it.
- Wow! And unfortunately, it's,
it is so sad how many times I've heard this story
from girls your age. - Yeah.
- Like cyber bullying is such a big thing.
- Yes. - And I didn't ...
This all wasn't around whenever I was your age.
And it was already hard enough,
but so Tina how have you seen Joziah and Aleia
transformed through the program?
- Oh my gosh. Like there are superstars, they're rock stars.
They're like the inspiration to the other kids.
I mean, they took the program to the max.
Like they got their lessons, they got their skills.
If they already had natural, amazing ability,
natural talent, all the way around and charisma.
And so just to put those instruments in their hands,
they took off, they loved playing on the shows that we had.
And so they actually moved to Hollywood.
- They did that? - After a while,
they were just so successful and great,
and people loved them and they just said,
"Hey, we're gonna do this." - Yeah.
- Wow. - And I was so proud of them.
I mean, I miss them, I was heartbroken, but we...
They keep visiting and that's great, but I said,
"We're gonna miss you but it's the best for you.
It's the best place for you."
And I really believe that, that they're gonna make it.
(audience applauding) - Oh my gosh.
This is amazing and so I just mean this is so great.
Well, there's something that you both want to say
to miss Tina, right? - Yes.
This is where I might cry. (all laughing)
I just wanna say miss Tina, I am eternally grateful for you.
Woo! Hair and makeup. (all laughing)
- Mine's gone (laughing).
- If it wasn't for you, I literally would not be here.
And I do hold you to a pedestal
because you saw something in me that I didn't see.
And you push me to this day to be the best that I can be,
not even just as a musician, but as a person.
And you brought together a whole bunch of us
that have different backgrounds and different life issues
and you made it a safe space for us.
And I'm forever grateful and on behalf of myself and Seattle
and my peers and Jimi Hendrix fans all around the world
I thank you so much for everything you're doing in his name.
- I love you, sweetie. - I love you too.
- I love you. - It's a beautiful thing.
Joziah, what do you wanna say?
- I just wanna thank you for, boosting my drumming skills,
making me a better person and every Thanks Giving,
we would pack up lunches for the homeless
and on that really taught us a lot.
So I just wanna thank you for making me a better person.
- Thank you too Joziah.
Thank you for keeping it rocking all this time, both of you.
- Thank you.
- Well I have something cool to share.
Pandora, the popular music and podcast streaming app
heard about all the great work that you're doing
and they wanna help.
So they're gonna donate $5,000 to the Hendrix Music Academy.
(all applauding)
And hey, - Oh my God.
- he was such an inspiration to me, I'ma match it.
I'ma give 500 as well. - Oh my God.
- Because it was, (all applauding)
a really big inspiration for me as well.
(Tina's Voice muffled) And it's so beautiful
what you're doing and like I said, not just with music
with the power of the community as well and teaching them,
all the different ways that you're impacting their lives
- Yes, it's a beautiful thing. - on the daily.
That's a beautiful thing
and it should be rewarded and appreciated.