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Jimi Hendrix
Jimi's Biography

'Scuse Me While I Kiss The Sky..


Part 1 - The Beginning

On November 27, 1942 at 10:15am, Lucille (Jeter) Hendrix gave birth to a baby boy at Seattle General Hospital. Her husband Al Hendrix was off fighting in WWII. Without him to consult, she named her baby boy Johnny Allen Hendrix.

Johnny Allen's mother Lucille had been a sick woman. The pregnancy was a difficult one. She was fighting with Tuberculosis and with the manic depression that frequently accompanied it. Because of this she had to be quarantined for some time. During this period her baby son had to stay with relatives.

It was 1945, and Al Hendrix just got discharged from the military. He searched out for his son and found him in Berkeley. Johnny Allen was 3 years old and had never seen his father except in a picture. They had alot of catching up to do. Al took his son back to Seattle, where they got settled in on Tenth Avenue. The first thing Al did was to change Johnny Allen's name to James Marshall Hendrix, after his brother who had died in the 1920's. It became official September 11, 1946.

In 1948 Al and Lucille got back together long enough to have another son, Leon. Shortly after that Lucille left Al and their 2 sons living in the projects. She would never really see her family again until 1958 when their Aunt took them to see her for a short visit. Shortly after that, Lucille lost her battle with TB, never really knowing her sons.

Jimmy bought his first guitar for $5. It was an acoustic. His father remembers him constantly strumming on the guitar. His father later bought him an old electric guitar. James taught himself to play. He spent many hours trying to play tunes on it. He was somewhat shy and often talked to his guitar. Aside from school and doing any chores his father would ask of him, his world was his guitar. He never asked for lessons. Some people are born with some special kind of talent. They don't need lessons or to be taught. They have some special knowledge about how something works. That's how it was with James and his guitar.

It was 1960 and Jimmy was 18 years old. He decided to join the military. There were no wars going on at the time and Jimmy was set on joining the Screaming Eagles, the paratroopers. His dad was reluctant about him joining the paratroopers, but proud of him. He went down to see him off when Jimmy shipped out. Jimmy left his guitar at home, with his dad promising to send it when he got out of boot camp. The military was uneventful for Jimmy until he was getting out. He ran into a bassist named Billy Cox, who had heard them play. Cox was impressed with Jimmy's guitar playing and they started playing together. After a short period they picked up Gary Ferguson (on drums) and Johnny Jones (who also played guitar. The Casuals were born. They mostly played the clubs around fort Campbell. After leaving the military they played around when and where they could.

Come 1962, Jimmy found himself in Vancouver playing with a group called Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers on the weekends. During the week he would play at the Black and Tan Club in Seattle.

In 1963 Jimmy hooked up with Little Richard. His talents were hardly used, Little Richard considering everyone else in the band 'background' for his displays. They traveled the country playing a mix of rock-a-billy and gospel, usually making very little money. Jimmy eventually left Little Richard in LA, and traveled the country doing backups and package tours with groups. Along the way he met Muddy Waters in person, his idol. It was Muddy who inspired him to experiment with a slide on his guitar.

Jimmy and a friend decided to head for New York. They arrived in Harlem and got a room in the Hotel Theresa. He started looking for work as a guitarist. It was then at the Palm Cafe that he met Fayne Pidgeon. It was also at the Palm Cafe where he met Ronnie Isley. He auditioned for the Isley brothers and got the job as lead guitarist, it was the spring of 1964.

Jimmy did gigs with the Isley Brothers in and out of the country for $30 a day, meeting Buddy Miles along the way. It was just before Christmas in 1964 when Jimmy left the Isley Brothers and picked up with Curtis Knight and the Squires. They played mostly in New York City and New Jersey, doing the local clubs. Jimmy got much more exposure now. His talents were spotlighted more often. Near the end of 1965 Jimmy toured with Joey Dee and the Starlighters.

Jimmy wandered around New York for awhile, playing here and there. His crowd grew, he began playing at the Cafe Wha?, hanging out there and making contacts. He was a regular fixture. It got to where other musicians wanted to play with him. It was then that he finally started his own band, Jimmy James and the Blue Flames. After playing the Wha? for awhile, Jimmy was going to get his biggest break ever.

Jimmy was noticed by John Hammond Jr., son of the producer of Columbia Records. John was a blues man. He invited Jimmy to play with him at the Cafe Au Go Go as a sideman. In attendance were the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Animals, and the lead guitarist for Bob Dylan. Jimmy greatly admired Bob Dylan. Later that night, Jimmy got to chat with Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts. Also there was Keith Richard's girlfriend, Linda Keith. She really was amazed by Jimmy. She started hanging out at the Cafe Wha? when Jimmy played. She took Jimmy under her wing.

Jimmy had literally been starving on what he was making at the Cafe Wha?. He had developed ulcers because of it. Linda Keith let Jimmy stay at her plush hotel room, giving him everything he had needed; food, clothes, even a new Fender Stratocaster. Jimmy thrived from all of her attention. Linda persisted and got Chas Chandler, a famous producer, to go to the Cafe Wha? to see Jimmy play. Chas knew talent when he heard it. He asked Jimmy to go to Britain with him, he was sure he would be a hit. After thinking about it Jimmy agreed, and signed a contract. Jimmy arrived in England September 21, 1966 as Jimi Hendrix.


Coming Soon in Part 2...

Are You Experienced?


Jimi Gets 'Experienced'
Jimi Hendrix and the Experience


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