A crowd of musicians watched in awe as the flames leaped from his instrument on that summer night in 1967 at the Monterey Pop Festival. They viewed the greatest guitar player to ever pick up the instrument, Jimi Hendrix.
Jimi Hendrix was born John Allen Hendrix on November 27, 1942 in Seattle Washington. Jimi’s mother eventually suffered from alcoholism while his father was off fighting in World War II. Jimi was sent to live with his relatives in Berkeley, California.
When his father returned from war, he divorced his wife and renamed Jimi James Marshall Hendrix. Jimi’s father showed him how to play guitar when he was thirteen. He became fascinated with the instrument and stayed fascinated with it his whole life, he brought it everywhere with him, he even slept with it. Jimi’s father told him to play with his right hand because playing left-handed was “a sign of the devil.” Whenever Jimi was in front of his father he played right-handed, but when his father left he played with the now famous left hand!
Jimi dropped out of high school and joined the army when he was seventeen in 1959. He was given an honorable discharge, after he broke his ankle during a training parachute jump.
When Jimi Hendrix first came out he went under the name Jimmy James. He was a pickup guitarist. Three years later he played for superstars such as Little Richard to B.B. King.
One year later he formed Jimmy James and the Blue Flames. After meeting Chas Chandler of The Animals he went to London in the fall of 1966 to form The Jimi Hendrix Experience with Mitch Mitchell on drums, and Noel Redding on bass. In the year 1967 Hendrix became a pop phenomenon in London because of his two hit singles, “Hey Joe” and “Purple Haze”and his debut album Are You Experienced. Also that year Hendrix played at the Monterey Pop Festival. That same night The Who was playing. Pete Townsend the band’s guitarist smashed his instrument into pieces. To top that, Hendrix set his to flames.
In 1968 the left-handed genius recorded his third album Electric Ladyland which contained hits such as “Voodoo Child(slight return)”, “Crosstown Traffic”, and a cover of the Bob Dylan song, “All Along The Watchtower”, which became one of his biggest hits. By August of 1969 The Jimi Hendrix Experience had broken up.
Later that year Hendrix appeared at the Woodstock festival. He performed many of his hits and his own version of The Star Spangled Banner.
Later on in 1969 he formed The Band Of Gypsys’ who only recorded one album. A few months later he played with Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cox a friend of Jimi from the army. Hendrix recorded his final album, Cry of Love with them. In August of 1970 he performed his last concert at The Isle Of Wight Festival.
Like Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, and many other musicians Jimi Hendrix died at the age of twenty- seven. He died of an inhalation of vomit. One month after The Isle Of Wight Festival.

Jimi Hendrix has been hailed as an icon since his death in 1970. He created rock classics such as, “Purple Haze”, “All Along The Watchtower” , and “Foxy Lady.” Jimi Hendrix has contributed two things to the world. First, he was the most influential guitar player in music history and second his incredible song writing that many people could connect with. The subject of his songs varied from the up beat and happy “Foxy Lady” to the dark and depressing “Hey Joe.” Some people believe his song writing was comparable to Bob Dylan’s song writing which influenced Hendrix. Whether you remember him for his mind blowing guitar playing, his incredible song writing, his unforgettable voice, or his shocking performances on stage, the world will never forget Jimi Hendrix.

Written in 8th Grade, February 2005.

Chris