Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle, Washington. Hendrix grew up
playing guitar, imitating blues greats like Muddy Waters as well
as early rockers.
He joined the army in 1959 and became a paratrooper but was
honorably discharged in 1961 after an injury that exempted him
from duty in Vietnam. In the early 1960s, Hendrix worked as a
pickup guitarist, backing musicians including Little Richard,
B.B. King, Ike and Tina Turner, and Sam Cooke.
In 1964, he moved to New York and played in coffeehouses,
where bassist Bryan Chandler of the British group the Animals
heard him. Chandler arranged to manage Hendrix and brought
him to London in 1966, where they created the Jimi Hendrix
Experience with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch
Mitchell.
The band’s first single, “Hey Joe,” hit No. 6 on the British pop
charts, and the band became an instant sensation.
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970)
