It's hard to imagine Jimi Hendrix at 75 years of age. In our collective consciousness he remains 27 -- an iconoclastic, bombastic showman who changed the course of modern music.
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix) came to the world on November 27, 1942. He was known as Jimi Hendrix from 1966 until his death in 1970. Prior to that time he worked often under the name Jimmy James as a session guitarist and supporting musician for several R&B acts.
Here he is as Jimi James working as a backup guitarist in 1965
He was an electrifying performer who understood the power of showmanship, but he was also a uniquely gifted guitarist, a cutting edge audio innovator, and a perfectionist and wizard in the studio.
A Year Later on German TV as Jimi Hendrix in 1966
What's left to share about Jimi Hendrix, one of the most iconic rock musicians who ever lived? Some of you might not know this. According to Jimi Hendrix’s imdb bio, his father considered left-handedness a sign of the devil and forced him to write with his right-hand. His bother also recounted that he played guitar right-handed when his father was around. He is reported to have retained the ability to play guitar right-handed, and also to play left-handed without restringing if he had to.
A Year Later His Big American Debut in 1967
Perhaps some jazz lovers aren't aware that Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis jammed together on a few occasions at Davis' apartment, and had planned to record together. But it gets even more interesting. At the Hard Rock Cafe in Prague there is a telegram on display from Jimi Hendrix to Paul McCartney, sent to Apple Records on October 21, 1969 which reads:
"We are recording an LP together this weekend in NewYork. How about coming in to play bass. call Alvan Douglas 212-5812212. Peace Jimi Hendrix Miles Davis Tony Williams." It's doubtful that McCartney received the telegram as he was on vacation, but talk about a super-group.
Miles Davis also wrote in his memoir that at the time of Hendrix's death, he and Gil Evans were in Europe planning a recording session with Hendrix. The mind reels at what might have been.
At His Absolute Best
Here is Jimi Hendrix's cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower"—an extraordinary achievement. Hendrix spent six months overdubbing and substituting tracks trying to get the perfect sound. Proving that necessity is the mother of invention, after trying everything in sight, he used to lighter to get the slide sound he was hearing in his head. The web has a wealth of information and audio outtakes from this song, but be warned, you may get lost in a cyber rabbit hole.
The lead photo is a highly altered version of a Billboard photo -- effects by
Portions of the text from my AllAboutJazz article and my Jazzamatazz article Left-Handed Blues
