Jimi Hendrix
A man of love, peace and freedom
This is Hendrix & he is awesome!
Here's a time line of
Jimi Hendrix's life:
- 1942 - Johnny Allen Hendrix was born in November, 1942. He was the oldest of his parents' five children. His mother was only 17.
- 1946 - Following his father's honorable discharge from the army, Johnny's name was changed to James Marshall Hendrix by his father.
- 1951 - In 1951, Hendrix's parents divorced. His father received primary custody of the children, and raised Jimi with the help of his paternal grandmother.
- 1957 - By 1957, Jimi's interest in music was growing. He saw Elvis Presley perform at Sicks Stadium that year.
- 1958 - Jimi's father bought him his first acoustic guitar, used, from a friend for $5.00 in 1958.
- 1958 - When Jimi was 15, his mother, an alcoholic, died of liver cirrhosis. While he had been raised by his father, Jimi had idolized his mother.
- 1959 - Jimi's father bought him his first electric guitar in 1959, and with friends, Jimi began playing small gigs locally.
- 1961 - Following some trouble with the law for riding in stolen cars, Jimi was offered the choice of prison or the army. He chose the army, and volunteered as a paratrooper. He was injured in a jump and honorably discharged the following year.
- 1962 - Between 1962 and 1965, Hendrix worked as a gig and studio musician, working closely with a number of well-known rhythm and blues musicians.
- 1966 - in 1966, Jimi founded Jimmy James and the Blue Flames. The band was short lived, and marked the last time the spelling Jimmy was used.
- 1966 - In London, Hendrix formed the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The band would gain rapid success, with chart topping songs by February 1967.
- 1969 - Following a successful American tour, at the height of its popularity, the Jimi Hendrix Experience broke up.
- 1969 - Jimi Hendrix played at Woodstock, debuting a new band, Gypsy Sun and Rainbows made up of old friends.
- 1969 - After initially debuting as Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, by 1970, Band of Gypsies had formed. Band of Gypsies consisted of Henrix, Billy Cox and Buddy Miles. The group began a tour in 1970.
- 1970 - On September 18, 1970, Hendrix was found dead in his hotel room in London following an overdose of sleeping pills.