James Marshall “Jimi” Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. He is widely considered to be the greatest electric guitarist in musical history, and one of the most influential musicians of his era across a range of genres.

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Backed Little Richard and The Isley Brothers before being “discovered” by Chas Chandler of The Animals in 1966.
Is generally considered to have been rock’s most innovative electric guitarist.
Was left handed.
Usually played an upside-down Fender Stratocaster, restrung for left hand.
Was said to put LSD litmus (“blotter acid”) under his bandana while he was playing on stage.
The footage of him playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in the film Woodstock (1970) is one of the most studied pieces of musical film ever.
Guitar impresario Les Paul supposedly called Hendrix “a left-handed, mother f—ing genius”. Neil Young said Hendrix was “absolutely the best guitar player that ever lived; there was no one even in the same building as that guy”.
Musician Al Kooper received one of Hendrix’s black Stratocasters from him as a gift; after de-converting the left-handed setup, Kooper used the guitar years later, to record the Crime Story (1986) (TV) soundtrack.
Had actually lost over 60% of his hearing by the time of his death; during mixing sessions Hendrix often found himself the only person who could stand the playback volumes he needed, over the studio speakers.
As an Army paratrooper, Hendrix followed up a jump by trying to recreate the sound of the air rushing by, with his guitar and amplifier, back at the barracks.
Toured with The Monkees in 1967 as their opening act, in the weeks before his Monterey performance; disliking their music at first, Hendrix was surprised that the Monkees would invite him. (They all but demanded his presence on tour from their managers.) He and the group hit it off well, though, and found each other to be genuine, impressive, and good company. (Some jamming did happen offstage, but none was recorded.) Hendrix’s act proved far less a match with the Monkees’ fans, though, and performances sometimes unraveled among relentless cries for the headliners. Hendrix asked to leave the tour, to begin his own after Monterey; he left on good terms, but a story was concocted by the Monkees’ press corps that Hendrix was out because of protests from the Daughters of the American Revolution, about his wild stage act–an inside joke, and some extra publicity for Hendrix.
Was one-quarter Cherokee, through his grandmother.
Hendrix played left-handed, much to the chagrin of his father, who believed that playing left-handed was a sign of the Devil! As Jimi’s brother witnessed, Jimi played right-handed when his dad was present. After the elder Hendrix left the room, Jimi would use his famous left hand. Jimi wrote with his right hand, however.
Hendrix was capable of playing guitars with his right and left hands. He also was able to play right-handed guitars without restringing. This unusual skill often served Jimi well: On many occasions he “auditioned” guitars in music stores — where left-handed axes are not usually plentiful.
Though Hendrix did indeed play right-handed Fender Stratocasters upside down (with the strings restrung for lefty position), he did own at least one left-handed Stratocaster. Hendrix also owned a left-handed ‘Flying V’ guitar, which he played periodically.
One of the early electric guitars Hendrix played was the now-discontinued Fender MusicMaster, which Jimi used while backing The Isley Brothers in the early ’60s. He also used the Fender Jazzmaster, an essential instrument for the punk music movement of the late ’70s and early ’80s.
Played in the Ike Turner Review under the name “Jimmy James”.
Elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience) in 1992.
Played his next to last performance at the infamous Isle of Wight festival in August 1970.
Hendrix and Pete Townshend of The Who got into a heated argument over who was going to follow whom at the Monterey Pop Festival. Neither artist wanted to follow the other, so John Phillips flipped a coin to decide who was going to go on. Townshend won, so Hendrix had to follow The Who, and he answered their usual end-of-show instrument smashing by setting his guitar on fire during the last song.
For years many people thought that Hendrix’s final performance was at the Isle of Wight Festival in England. However, Hendrix’s final performance was at a festival in Germany that was marred by bad weather and violence, especially by the German Hell’s Angels.
Wrote “Voodoo Child”, which would later be the entrance theme for pro wrestler Hulk Hogan.
He was a huge fan of Bob Dylan, often to the annoyance of friends and girlfriends as he would play Dylan’s records again and again. Many say they can hear the influence of Dylan in Hendrix’s lyrics. Hendrix often played “Like A Rolling Stone” at shows, but one of the legendary guitarist’s best known songs was his cover of Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower.” (Dylan today performs the song as a Hendrix tribute.)
He was voted the 6th Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Artist of all time by Rolling Stone. He was also voted the greatest guitarist of all time in a 2003 poll by Rolling Stone, a claim few would dispute.
Name was legally changed from “Johnny Allen Hendrix” to “James Marshall Hendrix” on September 11, 1946. He was 3 years old at the time.
Was the first musician inducted into the Native American Music Hall of Fame. He had both Tsalagi (Cherokee) and Nahua (Aztec) ancestors, as well as African American ancestors.
When Jimi first moved to England he would often stay with his manager, Chas Chandler, in his hometown of Newcastle Upon Tyne. He often busked in the Heaton area of Newcastle near Chillingham Road, not far from where Chandler grew up and went to school.
He was discovered and managed by Chas Chandler, the Newcastle-born bass player for the 1960s group The Animals, who had a hit with “House of the Rising Sun”, he later went on to manage the rock group Slade in the ’70s.
His father was African-American and his mother was of Cherokee, Aztec and Irish heritage.
While living in London in 1966, he got the chance to jam with Cream. He had wanted a chance to play with Eric Clapton.
David Gilmour of Pink Floyd lists him as a major influence. When Gilmour saw Hendrix playing in a London nightclub in 1966, he said that nobody who saw that performance left the club not thinking that Hendrix would go all the way to the top.
Ranked #51 on VH1′s 100 Sexiest Artists.
In spite of his legendary status, he only had one #1 hit with “All Along the Watchtower”.
Was a very close friend of David Nuuhiwa who later was used in Rainbow Bridge (1972).
Inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame for his outstanding contribution to British music and integral part of British music culture. (16 November 2005).
Though the guitar chord – 7th + sharpened 9th – became known as “The Hendrix Chord” through its heavy use on his “Foxy Lady” and “Purple Haze,” the 7#9 was actually used several months earlier by George Harrison on “Taxman” from The Beatles’ 1966 album “Revolver”.
Lived in London and New York City.
Stepbrother of Janie Hendrix.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6627 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Died at 27 years old, making him a member of the “27 Club”; The 27 Club is a group of prominent musicians that died at the age of 27. Other members include Rolling Stones co-founder Brian Jones, singer Janis Joplin, The Doors frontman Jim Morrison, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse.
Was expelled from High School for poor grades and attendance, though he later received an honorary diploma.
Although the Fender Stratocaster is the guitar most associated with Hendrix, he played a variety during his career including the Gibson SG, Gibson Les Paul and Gibson Flying V.
Was arrested for stealing cars in his youth and given the choice of jail or two years in the Army.
Was discharged from the Army for sub par service including sleeping on duty and poor marksmanship.