Jimi Hendrix – Perhaps The Greatest Electric Guitarist To Live

On November 27, 1942 one of the greatest American guitarists, singers and songwriters to ever live came into the world. James Marshall “Jimi” Hendrix has often been referred to as the greatest electric guitarist within the rock music community. There is no question he had an impact on the industry and continues to be an extremely influential musician today.

The story behind Jimi Hendrix began at the age of 15 when he acquired his first acoustic guitar for $5 from an acquaintance of his father. He grew quite fond of the instrument quickly as he was found practicing at all hours of the day. Between watching others play, listening to records, taking tips from more experienced players, and practicing on his own, he developed at a rapid pace.

After receiving his first electric guitar as a gift form his father, he really began to excel and add the acrobatic stage moves that became a major part to his act and the blues/R&B tradition in general. Fellow Seattle band mates of his say he learned to play with his teeth and behind his back from another young musician in Raleigh “Butch” Snipes.

His first gig came with an unnamed band in the basement of Seattle’s Temple De Hirsch. Coincidently, he was fired between sets for playing to wild and showing off. His first real band was The Velvetones as they performed regularly at the Yesler Terrace Neighborhood House.

Later down the road Hendrix found himself in trouble with the law on two separate occasions for riding in stolen cars. He was given the option to spend two years in prison or join the army and he enlisted on May 31, 1961. He was considered a sub-par soldier as he slept while on duty, showed no skill as a marksman, and had little regard for regulations. This led to his discharge after just a single year.

After his discharge, he picked up where he left off wowing people with his skills and showmanship. Over time he went through a number of different bands including The King Kasuals and Curtis Knight and the Squire.

It was in early 1966 that The Jimi Hendrix Experience was formed thanks to Chas Chandler. During this time, Hendrix met Eric Clapton and remained friends with him until passing away. After releasing their first album on May 12, 1967 the band toured the United Kingdom and parts of Europe. It was not until Paul McCartney recommended the group to the organizers of the Monterey International Pop Festival that they would gain fame in the United States.

After completing this festival, Hendrix headlined the 1969 Woodstock Festival and the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. Often times he enjoyed raw overdriven amplifiers with high gain and treble. He was one of the musicians that was known to popularize the wah-wah pedal in which he delivered an exaggerated pitch in his solos.

Over time Noel Redding became frustrated that he was not playing the guitar and in 1968 he formed his own band Fat Mattress. In an interview with Nancy Carter on June 15, Hendrix announced he was replacing Noel as bass player with Billy Cox. The final concert from The Jimi Hendrix experience was on June 29, 1969 at Barry Fey’s Denver Pop Festival.

Hendrix certainly had his fair share of legal troubles including a contractual dispute with producer Ed Chalpin and his arrest at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport when heroin and hashish was found in his luggage. Fortunately, he would be acquitted of these charges after arguing the drugs were slipped into his bag by a fan.

As with any musician, Jimi Hendrix idolized numerous artists growing up and throughout his development. Some of his influences with blues included B.B. King, Muddy Waters and Elmore James. He was greatly influenced by guitarists Curtis Mayfield and Steve Cropper and he once said he wanted to do with his guitar what Little Richard did with his voice.

Over the course of his lifetime, Hendrix would win many of the most prestigious rock music awards available. Some of the posthumous awards he has won include being inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. He received his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1995 and Rolling Stone named him the top guitarist on the list of 100 greatest guitarists of all-time in 2003.

Jimi Hendrix died earl on September 18, 1970 in London under unexplained circumstances. It is known that he had spent the later part of the previous night at a party and was picked up by his girlfriend and driven to her flat. The doctor who initially attended to him said he had asphyxiated in his own vomit, which was mainly red wine that filled his airways and lungs.