Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix (27 November, 1942 – 18 September, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is frequently credited as being the most important electric guitarist in the history of popular music.

1965-1966

On 15 October, 1965, Hendrix signed a 3-year recording contract with entrepreneur Ed Chalpin, receiving $1 and 1% royalty on records with Curtis Knight. The contract later caused litigation with Hendrix and other record labels.

Related Topics:
15 October - 1965 - Ed Chalpin - Curtis Knight - Litigation

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By 1966 he had his own band, Jimmy James and the Blue Flames, and a residency at the Cafe Wha? in New York City. During this period Hendrix met and worked with singer-guitarist Ellen McIlwaine and guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter. Hendrix also became close friends with a young guitarist named Randy California, who would later co-found the band Spirit. Hendrix also met iconoclast Frank Zappa during this time. Zappa introduced Hendrix to the newly-invented wah-wah pedal, a tool which Hendrix soon mastered and made an integral part of his sound.

Related Topics:
1966 - Jimmy James and the Blue Flames - Cafe Wha? - New York City - Ellen McIlwaine - Jeff "Skunk" Baxter - Spirit - Iconoclast - Frank Zappa - Wah-wah pedal

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While performing with The Blue Flames at the Cafe Wha?, Linda Keith, then-girlfriend of The Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, saw Hendrix, and couldn't believe he hadn't been "discovered". Knowing Chas Chandler was leaving The Animals, and looking for someone to manage, she introduced him to Hendrix. Chandler took Hendrix to England, signed him to a management and production contract as his record producer, and helped him form a new band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell.

Related Topics:
The Rolling Stones - Keith Richards - Chas Chandler - The Animals - England - Record producer - The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Bassist - Noel Redding - Mitch Mitchell

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

With his first few show-stopping London club appearances, word of the new star spread through the British music industry. His showmanship and dazzling virtuosity made instant fans of reigning guitar heroes Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, as well as members of The Beatles and The Who, whose managers signed Hendrix to The Who's record label, Track Records. Jimi's first single was a cover of "Hey Joe", a stylised blues song written by Billy Roberts that was virtually a standard for rock bands at the time. Hendrix and Chandler had seen folk-singer Tim Rose performing his slow arrangement of Hey Joe at the Cafe Wha?, and adapted it to Hendrix' emerging psychedelic style.

Related Topics:
London - Eric Clapton - Jeff Beck - The Beatles - The Who - Hey Joe - Blues - Tim Rose

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Further Hendrix success came with the incendiary and original "Purple Haze", with a heavily distorted guitar sound that would be influential for the next 20 years, the soulful ballad "The Wind Cries Mary", and "Hey Joe". The three songs were Top 10 hits.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Established as a star in the U.K., Hendrix and his girlfriend Kathy Etchingham moved into a flat at 23 Brook Street in central London. The nearby 25 Brook street was once the home of baroque composer Georg Friedrich Handel. Hendrix, aware of this musical coincidence, bought Handel recordings including the Messiah and the Water Music. The two houses currently comprise the Handel House Museum, where both musicians are celebrated.

Related Topics:
Georg Friedrich Handel - Messiah - Water Music - Handel House Museum

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~