Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix is largely considered the greatest guitar player in rock history. These acclamations come not only from critics, but from many of the best known guitar players in the world. His sound was at once raw yet sublime and tinged with overt sexuality and psychedelia. His mastery of using guitar feedback as well as his innovative use of the wah-wah pedal has influenced nearly every guitar player in modern music.

Jimi Hendrix’s early career was that of a hired gun. In 1964, after winning an amateur competition at the Apollo theater, Hendrix was hired to play guitar for the Isley Brothers and appeared on the Isley’s recorded single “Testify”. Later that same year, he was hired by and toured with Little Richard. He performed on one of Little Richard’s last recorded singles “I Don’t Know What You’ve Got, But It’s Got Me” and was also appeared on television with Richard’s band “The Royal Company”.

Jimi Hendrix continued to work as a sideman for various groups until 1966, when he was introduced to Chas Chandler. Chandler saw Hendrix’s potential and brought him to London. Once there Chandler helped him form the band that would eventually become one of the greatest rock ensembles in history. With drummer Noel Redding and bassists Mitch Mitchell, “The Jimi Hendrix Experience” was ready to explode onto the scene.

Several high-profile appearances in 1966, including an on-stage jam with Cream and an appearance on the hugely popular television program “Ready Steady Go”, Jimi Hendrix’s reputation as a virtuoso guitar player and performer spread around the London music scene like wildfire. Some of his biggest fans were already well established artists like Eric Clapton and rock bands such as The Who and The Beatles. 1966 and 1967 saw the release of three Hendrix singles; “Hey Joe”, “Purple Haze” and “The Wind Cries Mary”. All three of these songs were to be Top 10 hits in the United Kingdom.

May 12th, 1967 was the release date for Jimi Hendrix’s first full-length album “Are You Experienced’. In the UK it was a huge success, reaching all the way to number two on the UK charts, second only to The Beatles “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band”. Before heading on their first tour of the United States, The Jimi Hendrix Experience played to a sold out crowd at the Saville Theater in London. As a testament to his popularity with British musicians, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Eric Clapton and a host of other rock icons were in attendance at this concert.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience finally cracked the American music scene, playing high profile festivals, including headlining at the now infamous Woodstock. This increased popularity allowed Hendrix to record another album, “Axis: Bold as Love”. This album produced the top selling single “Little Wing” but was otherwise uneventful. Hendrix’s third album “Electric Ladyland” was to become a classic. Producing the singles “Voodoo Child” as well as a cover of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower”, Hendrix branched out and brought in a variety of different musicians for these recording sessions.

After the Jimi Hendrix Experience disbanded, Hendrix tried forming a few other musical groups, including Band of Gypsies. However, nothing would ever pan out to be as successful as the Jimi Hendrix Experience.