Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle, Washington, on November 27, 1942. His real name is James Marshal Hendrix, but nicknamed as Jimi. Jimi Hendrix was an American of African, European, Cherokee Indian and Mexican cultures. Jimi's parents, Al and Lucille Hendrix gave Jimi two younger brothers, and a younger sister, Being Leon, born January 13, 1948, In Seattle, Joseph, born in the mid 40's, and Cathy, born on September 27, 1950, Making Jimi the oldest of them all. December 17, 1951, Al and Lucille Hendrix get divorced. Jimi, Leon, and Joseph live with their father. Even though Joseph soon moves somewhere else, and Leon is given to a foster home. On February 2, 1958 Jimi's mother dies in Seattle, Jimi being the age of 15. Jimi and his father do not attend the funeral. He had a very unsettled childhood.

Jimi had received an electric guitar by the age of 12, but it was not until he was 15 that he really started getting into music, which lead to him having a rock n' roll band, when he was around 15 - 17 years old. Unfortunately since this is in the 50's racism was still going around, which is the reason that Jimi was kicked out of high school. He was caught holding a Caucasian girl's hand.

After being kicked out of high school Jimi volunteered into the army at the age of 17. He was a paratrooper for about 14 months in the army, until he had suffered an injury, taking him out of the army. After that injury, he decided to join the music industry.

The next four years Jimi toured the states as back up guitars for a couple R&B bands such as Little Richard, Tina Turner, and Wilson Pickett. Jimi was getting sick of the hard work, so he was drawn to New York's Greenwich Village where he recorded with the Isley Brothers, Curtis Knight and other artists. So in the late 1965's Jimi created a band "Jimi and the Blue Flames." Jimi's talent was then realized by Chas (ex bassist of "Animals"). Chas was impressed after hearing him play so he offered to become Jimi's manager and persuaded Jimi to accompany him back to England.

Jimi then had a band called "The Jimi Experience" formed with Noel Redding on bass and Mitch Mitchell behind the drums. Jimi Hendrix was