Widely recognized as one of the most creative and influential
musicians of the 20th century, Jimi Hendrix pioneered the
explosive popularity of the electric guitar. Hendrix's innovative
style of combining fuzz, feedback and controlled distortion
created a new musical form. Because he was unable to read or
write music, it is nothing short of remarkable that Jimi Hendrix's
meteoric rise in the music took place in just four short years. His
unique musical language continues to influence a whole host of
modern musicians, from George Clinton to Miles Davis, and
Steve Vai to Jonny Lang.
Jimi Hendrix, born Johnny Allen Hendrix at 10:15 a.m. on
November 27, 1942, at Seattle's King County Hospital, was later
renamed James Marshall by his father, James "Al" Hendrix.
Young Jimmy (as he was referred to at the time) took an interest
in music, drawing influence from virtually every major artist at the
time, including B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Buddy
Holly, and Robert Johnson. Entirely self-taught, Jimmy's inability
to read music made him concentrate even harder on the music
he could hear.
Al took notice of Jimmy's interest in the guitar, recalling "I used
to have Jimmy clean up the bedroom all the time while I was
gone, and when I would come home I would find a lot of broom
straws around the foot of the bed. I'd say to him, 'Well didn't you
sweep up the floor?' and he'd say, 'Oh yeah,' he did. But I'd find
out later that he used to be sitting at the end of the bed there
and strumming the broom like he was playing a guitar." Al found
an old one-string ukulele, which he gave to Jimmy to play with, a
huge improvement over the broom.
By the summer of 1958, Al had purchased Jimmy a five-dollar,
second-hand acoustic guitar from one of his friends. Shortly
thereafter, Jimmy joined his first band, The Velvetones. After a
three-month stint with the group, Jimmy left to pursue his own
interests. The following summer, Al purchased Jimmy his first
electric guitar, a Supro Ozark 1560S who used it when he joined
The Rocking Kings.
In 1961, Jimmy left home to enlist in the United States Army and
in November 1962 earned the right to wear the "Screaming
Eagles" patch for the paratroop division. While stationed at Fort
Campbell, Kentucky, Jimmy formed The King Casuals with
bassist Billy Cox. After being discharged due to an injury he
received during a parachute jump, Jimmy began working as a
session guitarist under the name Jimmy James. By the end of
1965, Jimmy had played with several marquee acts, including
Ike and Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, the Isley Brothers, and Little
Richard. Jimmy parted ways with Little Richard to form his own
band, Jimmy James and the Blue Flames, shedding the role of
back-line guitarist for the spotlight of lead guitar.
Throughout the latter half of 1965, and into the first part of 1966,
Jimmy played the rounds of smaller venues throughout
Greenwich Village, catching up with Animals' bassist Chas
Chandler during a July performance at the Caf‚ Wha? Chandler
was impressed with Jimmy's performance and returned again in
September 1966 to sign Hendrix to an agreement that would
have him move to London to form a new band.
Switching gears from bass player to manager, Chandler's first
task was to change Hendrix's name to "Jimi" - a name that
would become synonymous with the musical sound of a
changing generation. Featuring drummer Mitch Mitchell and
bassist Noel Redding, the newly formed Jimi Hendrix Experience
quickly became the talk of London in the fall of 1966.
The Experience's first single, "Hey Joe," spent ten weeks on the
UK charts, topping out at spot No. 6 in early 1967. The debut
single was quickly followed by the release of the full-length
album Are You Experienced, a psychedelic musical compilation
featuring anthems of the generation. Are You Experienced has
remained one of the most popular rock albums of all time,
featuring tracks like "Purple Haze," "The Wind Cries Mary,"
"Foxey Lady," "Fire," and "Are You Experienced?"
Although Hendrix experienced overwhelming success in Britain,
it wasn't until he returned to America in June 1967 that he ignited
the crowd at the Monterey International Pop Festival with his
incendiary performance of "Wild Thing." Literally overnight, The
Jimi Hendrix Experience became one of most popular and
highest grossing touring acts in the world. Hendrix followed up
Are You Experienced with Axis: Bold As Love. By 1968, Hendrix
had taken greater control over the direction of his music; he
spent considerable time working the consoles in the studio, with
each turn of a knob or flick of the switch bringing clarity to his
vision.
Back in America, Jimi Hendrix built his own recording studio,
Electric Lady Studios in New York City. The name of this project
became the basis for his most demanding musical release, the
ever popular, two LP collection, Electric Ladyland. Throughout
1968, the demands of touring and studio work took its toll on the
group and in 1969 the Experience had disbanded.
The summer of 1969 brought emotional and musical growth to
Jimi Hendrix. In playing the Woodstock Music & Art Fair in
August 1969, Jimi joined forces with an eclectic ensemble called
Gypsy Sun & Rainbows featuring Jimi Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell,
Billy Cox, Juma Sultan, and Jerry Velez. The Woodstock
performance was highlighted by the renegade version of "Star
Spangled Banner," which brought the thousands of mud-soaked
audience members to a frenzy.
Nineteen sixty-nine also brought about a new and defining
collaboration featuring Jimi Hendrix on guitar, bassist Billy Cox
and Electric Flag drummer Buddy Miles. Performing as the Band
of Gypsys, this trio launched a series of four stellar New Year's
performances on December 31, 1969 and January 1, 1970.
Highlights from these performances were compiled and later
released on the quintessential Band of Gypsys album in
mid-1970.
As 1970 progressed, Jimi brought back drummer Mitch Mitchell
to the group and together with Billy Cox on bass, this new trio
once again formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience. In the studio,
the group recorded several tracks for another two LP set,
tentatively titled First Rays Of The New Rising Sun.
Unfortunately, Hendrix was unable to see this new musical vision
through to completion due to his frantic worldwide touring
schedules and tragic death on September 18, 1970. Fortunately,
the recordings Hendrix slated for release on the album were
finally issued through the support of his family and original studio
engineer Eddie Kramer on the 1997 release First Rays Of The
New Rising Sun.
From demo recordings to finished masters, through incessant
touring and evolving musical styles, Jimi Hendrix generated a
stunning collection of songs over the course of his short career.
The music of Jimi Hendrix embraced the influences of blues,
ballads, rock, R&B, and jazz - a collection of styles that
continue to make Hendrix one of the most popular figures in the
history of rock music.
You Are The
Jimi Hendrix: Jeffery's Dedication To
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