Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle, Washington, USA, on November, 27 1942. He was named Johnny Allen Hendrix at birth. Divorce of his parents and death of his mother in 1951 had a great influence on him. Jimi was very close with his grandmother, Norah Rose Moor, who cultivated in him pride for his American origin (Jimi’s great grandfather was half Irish and half Cherokee). First acoustic guitar was given to Jimi by his father, who had bought it for 5 dollars, and this instrument predetermined his son’s destiny. Soon Jimi played with several Seattle bands, but was sentenced two years of prison. Nevertheless his lawyer managed to change prison sentence to military service, and young musician found himself in 101st Airborne Division. In the army he was considered to be a careless soldier without any good qualities.

After the military service Jimi Hendrix and his friend Billy Cox moved to Nashville, and in early 60’s they already played on stage before B. B. King and Little Richard. By 1966 Jimi had his own band named Jimmy James and The Blue Flames. Also during that period he met Frank Zappa, who showed him a new guitar effect pedal wah-wah. Jimi liked the way it sounded so much that he became a master of that effect, and it is impossible to imagine his guitar sound without it. The next period of creative work began when Hendrix met Chas Chandler, former member of The Animals. He became Jimi’s producer and helped him to organize and start new band, named The Jimi Hendrix Experience. There were three members in the band: Jimi, drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding. Then Hendrix moved to London.

The success came soon: after several songs released the band got numerous fans. The Jimi Hendrix Experience did not restrict to some certain style, they simply had no style limits: they wrote different songs: ballads - The Wind Cries Mary, experimental songs – Purple Haze. The latter was recorded with heavy and highly distorted guitar sound. The first album - Are You Experienced? - was released in 1967. Hendrix was innovator not only in music, but on stage too. He was the first guitarist who set his instrument on fire during the show. It happened on March, 31 1967, and after that gig Jimi was in hospital with his hands burned. New songs were created, and the second album Axis: Bold As love was released in December 1967. Jimi lost part of the record, and release was almost spoiled. But terms were fixed, and Hendrix and Chandler spent a night mixing the record by means of separately recorded parts. No surprise that after such a studio work Hendrix said that he was never satisfied by the result. Third album of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, named Electric Ladyland (1968) was way more experimental. There was a 15-minutes blues Voodoo Child and jazz song Rainy Day, Dream Away.

In June of 1969 bassist Noel Redding said about his decision to leave the band, but by the August Hendrix had a new band Gypsy Sun and Rainbows. They performed at legendary Woodstock Music & Art Fair. As many experts note that it was Jimi’s best show ever. Anyhow Gypsy Sun and Rainbows did not exist for a long time: in 1970 Hendrix created Band of Gypsys, all members of which were black-skinned. Jimi played with his old friend – bassist Billy Cox and drummer Buddy Miles. Last Jimi’s show took place in September, 6 1970, at Isle of Fehmarn festival.

Early on September 18, 1970, Jimi Hendrix died in London, in hotel Samarkand. The circumstances of his death were never cleared up. Musician of genius was only 27 years old, but he opened a new chapter in world rock music, and the electric guitar was given totally new sound. Posthumous discography of composer and virtuosic guitarist counts about 300 records.