Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix, possibly the greatest guitarist in rock history changed the sound of rock. In 1967 The Jimi Hendrix Experience rocked the nation with their first album Are You Experienced?. Hendrix had a short life because of drugs in 1970 when he was only 27 years old. In a few years, rock and roll changed a lot and Jimi's guitar playing was a big influence.

Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle Washington on November 27, 1942. When he was just a kid he would play along with his R&B records whenever he could. He didn't always like to play music though, he always had wanted to be in the army. In the late 1950's Jimi joined the 101st airborne division, but he had a back injury doing a jump and got a medical discharge. That's when he decided to have a musical career. By this time he had already become a pretty good guitar player, And is now the greatest known guitar player ever.

Jimi started out playing backup for smalltime R&B groups. Soon some of the best known artists, such as BB king, Ike and Turner, and Little Richard wanted him. After a few months of touring with R&B groups he wanted to try singing. A guy heard him singing at a club and talked him into moving to England, where he met the rest of his band members.

In 1966 Jimi Hendrix debuted. One year later their club shows were overcrowded. The Monkees heard them and liked them, and asked them to tour with them. But not many Monkees fans liked his lyrics and his style, so they kicked him off the tour. After this he was invited to pop festivals and eventually came out with his first album Are You Experienced?.

He played The Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock and that is one way he became really famous. Soon after Woodstock his drug addiction became worse. On September 18th 1970 he was found dead in his room from a drug overdose and had drowned in his own throwup. Most people still like his music, and if he hadn't have died he would probably still be changing music today.