The most legendary guitarist in rock history. He spent his early years as a back-up musician to great names like B.B.King, Ike and Tina Turner, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett, and the Isley Brothers. Ex Animals Chas Chandler heard him playing in a Village club, and decided to drop his own career and manage Hendrix ; he even sold his guitars to buy equipment for Jimi. He took him to London, set him up to play in various "in" clubs, and brought the Beatles, Pete Townshend and Eric Clapton to see his outrageously flashy performances... Hendrix had picked up tricks from various unknown black American musicians, playing the guitar behind his neck, or with his teeth, and experimented with a whole new range of sound effects on his Fender Stratocaster. Polydor Records jumped in and signed him up. His first single Hey Joe stormed the UK charts. His USA debut took place in 1967 at Monterey Pop Festival. His guitar-burning act stunned the audience.. Hendrix had further singles success before becoming a major album artist, reaching the zenith of commercial success and artistic creativity in 1968 with classic LPs Axis Bold as Love and Electric Ladyland . After a masterful appearance at Woodstock in August 1969, the Jimi Hendrix Experience which featured Jimi with Noel Redding (bass) and Mitch Mitchell (drums) broke up due to personal and business problems as well as because Jimi felt cornered by the style of music. Hendrix next forms the Band of Gypsys with Billy Cox at bass and Buddy Miles at the drums, but despite their phenomenal potential they were short-lived, with Jimi walking out on 19,000 fans in the middle of a second number at Madison Square Garden in January 1970.. The same summer Jimi played to nearly a quarter of a million people at the Isle of Wight Festival (his last major concert..) but met with poor response from critics. The three years of incredibly hard touring, recording and drink and drug abuse took their toll, and on September 18, 1970 Hendrix was pronounced Dead on Arrival at a Kensington Hospital.
Hendrix's guitar work showed touch of sheer genius, opening up new musical horizons for a generation of rock musicians, while his vocals (although limited) oozed raw power.. Jimi remains one of the most influential and popular artists of all times in rock history.