ABSTRACT
Rock singer and guitarist, born James Marshall Hendrix in Seattle, Washington. He taught himself to play the guitar and performed with various acts, including Little Richard and the Isley Brothers. He toured widely in the 1960s, developing a stage presence that included bizarre costumes, flamboyant guitar techniques, and oftentimes the smashing or burning of his
instrument to close a show. Under the guidance of former Animals guitarist Chas Chandler, he formed a group called the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1966, and cut a chart single, “Purple Haze” (Reprise 0597; 1967), and a very successful album, Are You Experienced? (Reprise R6250; 1967), that was on the charts for 87 weeks. The album featured an extensive repertoire of engineering effects, such as playing some material backwards. In 1967 Hendrix was a hit at the Monterey Pop Festival in California, and he toured the U.S., receiving mixed notices. He opened his own recording studio, Electric Lady, in Greenwich Village and continued to work on new timbres and recording techniques. Hendrix had several important albums in the late 1960s, including Axis: Bold as Love (Reprise RS 6281; 1968), and Electric Ladyland (Reprise 2RS 6307; 1968). He died of a drug overdose in London in 1970.
