Jimi Hendrix: The Life and Music of Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix (1942–1970) was a rock 'n' roll guitarist, singer, and songwriter known for his electric guitar skills and wild showmanship. His prolific guitar playing and exceptional songwriting abilities catapulted him to fame and influenced musicians in other genres including hard rock, funk, and grunge. One of his most legendary performances took place on stage at Woodstock Music Festival in 1969, where he debuted his electric rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner." His career lasted only four short years. Hendrix died in 1970, but his status as a legendary rocker lives on.

Jimi Hendrix had a short but prolific career that continues to inspire guitarists to this day.

• Early years: Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle, Washington, on November 27, 1942 and named Johnny Allen Hendrix. In 1946 his parents changed his name to James Marshall Hendrix. Born into a family beset with hardships, Hendrix retreated to his father's electric blues and rock ‘n’ roll records at an early age. Inspired by the blues artist Muddy Waters, Hendrix taught himself to play the guitar. He received his first electric guitar when he turned 16 and subsequently dropped out of high school to focus on playing blues with his first group, the Rocking Kings.
• Military service: In 1961, Hendrix enlisted as a paratrooper in the United States Army where he formed a band called the King Kasuals with a few of his fellow army men. A year later, in 1962, Hendrix was honorably discharged.
• Early career: After Hendrix left the service, he started performing as a session musician, going by the name Jimmy James. He'd play backup guitar for the likes of B.B. King, Little Richard, Sam Cooke, and the Isley Brothers. When he wasn't touring, he played gigs around Greenwich Village in New York City with his own group—Jimmy James and the Blue Flames—as well as playing with the blues rock group Curtis Knight and the Squires.
• The Jimi Hendrix Experience: In 1966, Hendrix moved to London, England to join forces with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell. Together, they were known as the Jimi Hendrix Experience. His manager, Chas Chandler (who played bass for the popular rock group the Animals) helped introduce Hendrix to British rockers such as Eric Clapton, the Beatles, the Who, and the Rolling Stones. In 1967, they released their first album titled, Are You Experienced? Their first single, "Hey Joe," was incredibly well-received upon its release in Britain. Jimi Hendrix would go on to gain the adoration of audiences in America while performing at the Monterey Pop Festival later that year.
• Solo career: After releasing two new albums together—Axis: Bold as Love and Electric Ladyland (named after the recording studio in which it was produced, Electric Lady Studios)—the Jimi Hendrix Experience disbanded due to creative differences. Hendrix's first solo performance following the breakup was at the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969. Later that same year, Hendrix formed a group called the Band of Gypsys with bassist Billy Cox and drummer Buddy Miles. Their time together was short-lived, and they released one self-titled album.
• Final years: The prolific rock guitarist died due to drug-related complications in London on September 18, 1970. He was 27 years old. At the time of Hendrix's passing, he had several unreleased recordings. A total of 12 posthumous albums would be released featuring Hendrix's songs including The Cry of Love, Rainbow Bridge, and First Rays of the New Rising Sun. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

These characteristics define Hendrix’s style of music.

1. 1. Unconventional tuning: Hendrix rarely played a standard tuned guitar. Instead, he preferred to down-tune his guitar to E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, and B♭. He also made good use of effects pedals. If you're trying to get that signature Hendrix sound, you'll need three effects pedals: wah-wah, octave, and fuzz. "The Hendrix chord" as it's known is an E7♯9 and is the secret ingredient to many bluesy Hendrix songs.
2. 2. Funky rhythms: Though Hendrix played lead guitar in nearly all of his groups, he played his licks with rhythm. By using his thumb to play the bass notes of chord shapes, Hendrix was able to incorporate funk rhythms even while soloing. This technique has become a standard practice in rock music and can be heard in his 1967 song "Little Wing.”
3. 3. Expressive solos: Hendrix's guitar playing was uniquely expressive without sacrificing technique. He played with enviable freedom, which made his live performances raw and unpredictable. He infamously set his guitar on fire at the Monterey Pop Festival following a rollicking solo in the song "Wild Thing." His 1970 song “Machine Gun” features an iconic solo designed to mimic the sounds of warfare.

Jimi Hendrix produced many culturally significant works, but these songs continue to stand the test of time.

1. 1. “Hey Joe”: This song was the spark that lit Hendrix's career aflame. The song was originally written by California-based band the Leaves, and Hendrix performed his version at New York's Cafe Wha? in 1966. The Animals’ bass player, Chas Chandler, heard Hendrix's rendition and convinced him to move to Europe to record the single and form the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
2. 2. “Purple Haze”: This song was the second single released by the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1967. Fans have often interpreted the lyrics as in reference to a psychedelic trip, but Hendrix has said it's meant to be a love song.
3. 3. “The Wind Cries Mary”: This is the third single from the Jimi Hendrix Experience. It was released as the B-side to “Purple Haze” in the United States and later released on the album Are You Experienced? The track reached the sixth spot on the UK Singles Chart in 1967.
4. 4. “All Along the Watchtower”: This song was originally written by Bob Dylan for acoustic guitar. The Jimi Hendrix Experience released its electric version in 1968. It hit number 20 on the Billboard Charts, making it Hendrix's highest-ranking hit in America.
5. 5. “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”: This song features Hendrix's signature wah-wah guitar tone. Released in 1968 on Electric Ladyland, the song hit number one on the UK Singles Chart. The hit would be Hendrix's only chart-topping single in the UK.

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