Jimi Hendrix facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jimi Hendrix
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Johnny Allen Hendrix |
| Born | November 27, 1942 Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Died | September 18, 1970 (aged 27) London, England |
| Genres | Hard rock, blues-rock, psychedelic rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, producer |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1963–1970 |
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Even though his main career lasted only four years, he is seen as one of the most important electric guitar players ever. Many people call him one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame says he was "arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music."
He first became famous in England. Then, he became known worldwide after playing at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. He also played a big part in the famous Woodstock Festival. Hendrix taught himself to play the electric guitar. He usually played a Fender Stratocaster. Since he was left-handed, he would play the guitar upside down.
Jimi Hendrix won many music awards during his life and after he passed away. In 1967, readers of Melody Maker magazine voted him the Pop Musician of the Year. In 1968, Rolling Stone magazine called him the Performer of the Year. Disc and Music Echo gave him the World Top Musician award in 1969. In 1970, Guitar Player named him the Rock Guitarist of the Year.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience band was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. They also joined the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. Rolling Stone magazine listed the band's first three albums, Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold as Love, and Electric Ladyland, among the 100 greatest albums of all time. The magazine also ranked Hendrix as the greatest guitarist and the sixth greatest artist of all time.
Contents
Early Life and Music
Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle on November 27, 1942. His birth name was Johnny Allen Hendrix. Later, his father changed his name to James Marshall Hendrix. Jimi grew up in a family that didn't have much money. His parents divorced when he was nine years old. His mother died when he was 16.
In 1957, when he was helping his father with a job, Hendrix found a ukulele. It was among some old items they were removing from a house. The owner said he could keep the instrument, even though it only had one string. He learned to play by listening to Elvis Presley songs. He would play single notes by ear.
In 1958, at age 15, Hendrix got his first acoustic guitar for $5. He practiced for many hours every day. He watched other guitarists and got tips from them. He also listened to famous blues artists.
Soon after getting his acoustic guitar, Hendrix started his first band, the Velvetones. He couldn't be heard well over the band's sound without an electric guitar. After about three months, he knew he needed an electric guitar. In 1959, his father bought him a white Supro Ozark guitar. Hendrix's first public show was with an unnamed band at a place called the Jaffe Room.
Musical Influences
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When Hendrix was young, he really liked Elvis Presley. He went to see Presley play in Seattle in 1957. He even drew a color picture of Elvis holding an acoustic guitar. You can see this drawing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.
Even as an adult, he still loved Presley's music. In 1968, he went to see an Elvis Presley movie called King Creole in Paris. He hoped it would give him ideas for writing songs. He also admired famous blues musicians. Some of his favorites were Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, and Lightning Hopkins.
Joining the Army
Before he turned 19, Hendrix joined the Army. He enlisted on May 31, 1961. He completed eight weeks of basic training in California. Then, he was sent to the 101st Airborne Division in Kentucky.
Hendrix finished his paratrooper training in just over eight months. He received a special award called the Screaming Eagles patch in January 1962. On June 29, 1962, Hendrix was honorably discharged from the Army.
Becoming a Star
After leaving the army, Hendrix moved to Clarksville, Tennessee. There, he played in a group called The King Kasuals. They played in small bars but didn't earn much money. So, he later moved to Nashville. In Nashville, they played many blues-style songs. In November 1962, Hendrix had his first studio recording.
While in Nashville, Hendrix played guitar and sang in many other bands. This didn't make him rich, but it taught him a lot about how bands work. Later, Hendrix left Nashville and went to New York City. By January 1964, he was in Harlem. He played at bars and clubs to earn money. Hendrix also won first prize in a guitar contest at The Apollo Theatre. In 1966, Hendrix started his own band called "Jimmy James and The Blues Flames."
In 1966, Hendrix met Linda Keith, who was the girlfriend of Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones. She liked his music a lot. She introduced him to Chas Chandler, who was the manager for The Animals. Chandler asked Hendrix to create a rock version of the song “Hey Joe.” When Hendrix did, Chandler brought him to London to sign a contract. Hendrix then needed to form a new band. It was called The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience released their first album in 1967. It was called Are You Experienced? While the album was being made and sold, Hendrix toured around the UK and parts of Europe. On June 4, 1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience played their last concert in London before going to America. In America, many famous people came to see Hendrix play. These included Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Brian Epstein.
The album reached number two on the UK music charts. In 2001, VH1 named Are You Experienced the fifth greatest album of all time. Rolling Stone magazine placed it at number 15 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time in 2003.
Axis: Bold as Love
Hendrix’ second album came out in 1967. It was titled Axis: Bold as Love. It featured famous songs, with "Little Wing" being the most well-known. Many other musicians have covered this song, including Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton. A key difference in this album was that Hendrix tuned his guitar down a semi-tone (to E flat). The album reached number three in the US charts and number five in the UK charts.
The album almost didn't get released. Hendrix lost the master tape for one side of the album in a taxi in London. Hendrix, Chas Chandler, and an engineer named Eddie Kramer had to quickly re-mix the songs in one night. They had trouble with the song "If 6 was 9," but luckily, Hendrix's bassist Noel Redding had a copy of it. When the album was released, Hendrix felt a bit disappointed. He thought it was finished too quickly and could have been better.
Electric Ladyland
Hendrix finished his third album, Electric Ladyland, in 1968. This was a double album with two LP's. In this year, Chas Chandler, Hendrix’s manager, decided to leave. Noel Redding, the bassist, also left. When Chandler left, Hendrix started to change his music a lot. He began working with different musicians and using new instruments. He used guitars with flutes and trombones, all with distortion, to create unique sounds.
The album reached number one in the US. It reached number five in the UK. In 2003, VH1 named Electric Ladyland the 72nd best album of all time. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it as the 54th greatest album of all time.
Famous Performances
Even though The Jimi Hendrix Experience was popular in Europe, their first US song, "Hey Joe," didn't do well on the charts in 1967. Their luck changed when Paul McCartney suggested them to the people organizing the Monterey Pop Festival. He said the festival wouldn't be complete without Hendrix. McCartney called him "an absolute ace on the guitar." He agreed to join the festival's organizers only if the Experience could perform in mid-June.
Brian Jones introduced Hendrix as "the most exciting performer [he had] ever heard." Hendrix started his show with a fast version of Howlin' Wolf's song "Killing Floor." He wore very unique clothes. People said Hendrix was not only new musically, but also looked completely original for a black American entertainer.
Woodstock Festival
Hendrix played at the Woodstock Festival on August 18, 1969. That year, Woodstock made a lot of money. It has since become one of the most famous concerts in the world. Hendrix played for two hours. He performed a special version of Star Spangled Banner. He played this national anthem with heavy distortion and sounds like screams from his guitar. In an interview, Hendrix said he "did not intend for his performance to be a political statement." He just wanted it to be another version of the national anthem.
His Legacy
Jimi Hendrix's unique way of playing the guitar changed music forever. He was known for his amazing stage presence and his experimental sounds. He inspired countless musicians and continues to be a legend in rock and roll.
Death and Burial
Jimi Hendrix passed away on September 18, 1970, in London. He was pronounced dead at 12:45 p.m. After his body was prepared, it was flown to Seattle, Washington. On September 29, 1970, he was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Renton, Washington. This is where his mother was also buried.
Many of Hendrix's family and friends attended the funeral. There were twenty-four limousines and over two hundred people. Famous musicians like Mitch Mitchell, Noel Redding, Miles Davis, and Johnny Winter were there.
Because Hendrix had so many fans, people worried that crowds visiting his grave might damage other graves. So, Hendrix’s father, Al Hendrix, had a new memorial site built. It is far from other graves. The memorial is a granite dome held up by three pillars. Hendrix is buried underneath it. His autograph is at the bottom of each pillar. A brass sundial is at the top of the dome. There is also a statue of Hendrix playing a Stratocaster in Seattle.
Images for kids
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The Experience in 1968.
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Hendrix on stage in Stockholm, Sweden, in June 1967.
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Hendrix on May 10, 1968.
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The white building (left) is 23 Brook Street; the building on the right is the Handel House Museum.
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Hendrix flashed a peace sign at the start of his performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock.
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The Samarkand Hotel, where Hendrix spent his final hours.
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A 1968 King Vox-Wah wah-wah pedal, similar to one owned by Hendrix.
See also
In Spanish: Jimi Hendrix para niños
