Jimi Hendrix's Biography

James Marshall Hendrix was born on 27 November 1942 in Seattle, Washington. His parents divorced in the early fifties; from then on Jimmy (changed to Jimi later on) lived with his father. Jimmy became obsessed with his father's classical blues and jazz record collection. Jimmy's father, Al Hendrix, realized this and decided to buy Jimmy a cheap guitar. At the age of eleven the roots of a legendary guitar player were planted. In May 1961 at the age of seventeen, Jimmy left Seattle and joined the army.

He enlisted in the 101st Airborne Paratroopers where he stayed for fourteen months and made 25 successful jumps. On his 26th jump he sustained a substantial ankle injury and was given an honorable discharge. After the army he began to play guitar on many star-studded package tours. Playing in the shadow of many greats like B.B. King, Sam Cooke, Soloman Burke, Chuck Jackson and Jackie Wilson, he later joined Little Richard's band and went on to play with Ike and Tina Turner. Although Jimmy was learning important things to help him later on in his music career, he was frustrated by the fact that he was not free to play the way he wanted. So he started his own group where he elected to sing for the first time. The group had a regular spot at Greenwich Village. One night when the were playing in the Cafe Wha, Greenwich Village in 1966, they were spotted by former bassist with the Animals, Chas Chandler. Chandler convinced Jimmy to come to London with him, and from that arose Jimmy's stardom. Once they arrived in London on 24 September 1966 they decided to change Jimmy's name to Jimi. The two thought it would be more "memorable." Soon Chandler became Jimi's manager. They agreed that the best setup for Jimi would be a trio. They chose Mitch Mitchell on drums, and Noel Redding to play bass. So on 6 October 1966 The Jimi Hendrix Experience was formed. In the next four years, from 1966 to 1970, The Jimi Hendrix Experience released three major albums. Jimi also had a side band named The Band of Gypsies, which was an all-black trio. With The Band of Gypsies

he released one live album and played at Woodstock '69. He later released an album with a band called The Cry of Love Band, called The Cry of Love. On Friday 17 September 1970 Jimi was staying in London with a girlfriend named Monika Danneman. He had a big gig to play the next day so he needed to get some sleep. He took some sleeping pills and went to bed; the next morning Danneman saw that Jimi had vomited during the night but paid no attention to it. When she tried to wake him a little later and he did not stir, she called an ambulance. By the time the ambulance arrived, Jimi had died of suffocation from his vomit. The cause of his death has been a controversy even till today. The night before he had been working on a new song. The closing lines were:

The story
of life is quicker
than the wink of an eye
The story of love
is hello and goodbye
Until we meet again

Jimi Hendrix(Nov. 27, 1942 - Sept. 18, 1970) Suffocation on Vomit due to Drug Overdose

Jimi Hendrix
(Nov. 27, 1942 - Sept. 18, 1970)
Suffocation on Vomit due to Drug Overdose