Jimi Hendrix

Who was Jimi Hendrix?

Jimi Hendrix is considered as one of the greatest electric guitarists that the music world has ever witnessed. He composed music combining different genres of hard rock, jazz and blues into soulful unforgettable renditions. His style of music has been a source of inspiration for many budding musicians. He started his musical career by forming his first band The Jimmy Hendrix Experience where he played the guitar and also sang as the lead vocalist. His first single “Hey, Joe” took the world by storm. He made headlines after his iconic performance in 1969 in the Woodstock Festival and the Isle of Wight Festival in the 1970s. His second album was Axis: Bold as Love released in 1968 and his final album Electric Ladyland was also released in the same year. It featured the hit “All Along the Watchtower.” Soon after, the band split in 1969. His style of music was strongly influenced by blues artists like B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Albert King, Elmore James and rhythm and blues guitarists Curtis Mayfield and Steve Cropper. His music was also inspired by the jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery. This lead guitarist expired at the age of 27 on 18th September, 1970.

Musical Career

He met a soldier named Billy Cox who was originally a bass player. Both of them formed a band together named King Kasuals and performed regularly at a club in Nashville, Tennessee. By this time, he had drawn popularity as a renowned guitarist and emulated the late rocker Little Richard on-stage. Hendrix performed with the Isley Brothers and also with saxophonist King Curtis, and later with friend Curtis Knight. He then signed a contract with Knight's manager, Ed Chalpin and later formed his own group, Jimmy James & the Blue Flames, and shifted base to New York.

Band of Gypsys

In 1967, the band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience broke apart due to a contractual dispute between Jimi and his producer Ed Chalpin in 1965. Hendrix then chose to record a live album, the Band of Gypsys.