Jimi Hendrix was born Johnny Allen Hendrix (later changed by his father to James Marshall) on

November 27, 1942, in Seattle, Washington. He had a difficult childhood, sometimes living in
the care of relatives or acquaintances. As a child, Jimi Hendrix strummed a broom like a guitar
after cleaning the floors of his house before his father gave him a one-string ukulele.

His mother, Lucille, was only 17 years old when Hendrix was born. She had a stormy
relationship with his father, Al, and eventually left the family after the couple had two more
children together, sons Leon and Joseph. Hendrix would only see his mother sporadically before
her death in 1958.

In many ways, music became a sanctuary for Hendrix. He was a fan of blues and rock and roll,
and with his father's encouragement taught himself to play guitar. 

When Hendrix was 16, his father bought him his first acoustic guitar, and the next year his first
electric guitar — a right-handed one that the natural lefty had to flip upside down to play. Shortly
thereafter, he began performing with his band, the Rocking Kings. In 1959, he dropped out of
high school and worked odd jobs while continuing to follow his musical aspirations.

In 1961, Hendrix followed in his father's footsteps by enlisting in the United States Army. While
training as a paratrooper, Hendrix still found time for music, forming a band named the King
Kasuals. Hendrix served in the army until 1962 when he was honorably discharged after injuring
himself during a parachute jump. 

After leaving the military, Hendrix began working under the name Jimmy James as a session
musician, playing backup for such performers as Little Richard, B.B. King. In 1965 he also
formed a group of his own called Jimmy James and the Blue Flames, which played gigs in New
York City.

In mid-1966, Hendrix met Chas Chandler — bass player of the British rock group the Animals
— who signed an agreement with Hendrix to become his manager. Chandler convinced Hendrix
to go to London, where he joined forces with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell
to form the Jimi Hendrix Experience. 

While performing in England, Hendrix built up quite a following among the country's rock
royalty, with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who and Eric Clapton all becoming great
admirers of his work. One critic for the British music magazine Melody Maker said that he "had
great stage presence" and looked at times as if he were playing "with no hands at all."

In 1967 he released a number of hits, which turned very popular in Britain. On tour to support his
first album, Are You Experienced? (1967), Hendrix delighted audiences with his outrageous
guitar-playing skills and his innovative, experimental sound. In June 1967 he also won over
American music fans with his stunning performance at the Monterey Pop Festival, which ended
with Hendrix lighting his guitar on fire.

In 1969, after scoring with another two albums, Jimi performed at another legendary musical
event: the Woodstock Music Festival. Hendrix, the last performer to appear in the three-day-plus
festival, played a rock rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" that amazed the crowds and
demonstrated his considerable talents as a musician. 

Also an accomplished songwriter and producer by this time, Hendrix had his own recording
studio, Electric Lady, in which he worked with different performers to try out new songs and
sounds.

Hendrix died in London from drug-related complications on September 18, 1970, at the age of
27. He left an indelible mark on the world of rock music and remains popular to this day.