Jimi Hendrix, a legendary guitarist, is considered one of the most influential musicians in the history of popular music. His innovative use of amplifiers and effects revolutionized rock music. He received numerous awards and accolades during and after his lifetime.
James Allen Hendrix, the son of Zenora and Bertran Philander Ross Hendrix, was born on June 10, 1919, in Vancouver, Canada, before later becoming the father of Jimi Hendrix.
Al Hendrix married Lucille Jeter on March 31, 1942, in Seattle.
On November 7, 1942, Johnny Allen Hendrix, who later became known as Jimi Hendrix, was born.
Jimi Hendrix, born as Johnny Allen Hendrix, was an American guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music.
Al, stationed in Alabama at the time of Hendrix's birth, was denied a military furlough for childbirth. His commanding officer placed him in the stockade for two months without trial. Al received a telegram announcing his son's birth while in the stockade. After his discharge on September 1, 1945, he went to Berkeley, California, to see his son for the first time.
Johnny's father, Al, changed his son's name from Johnny Allen Hendrix to James Marshall Hendrix on September 11, 1946.
In 1950, Jimi Hendrix started his musical journey by emulating a guitar with a broom at Horace Mann Elementary School in Seattle, which eventually led to a request for school funding for a guitar due to concerns about psychological damage.
Hendrix's parents divorced on December 17, 1951, when he was nine years old. The court granted custody of him and his brother Leon to their father, Al.
Jimi Hendrix saw Elvis Presley perform at Sicks Stadium on September 1, 1957, who was one of his main inspirations.
Jimi Hendrix's mother passed away on February 2, 1958.
On an unspecified date in 1959, Jimi Hendrix bought his first electric guitar, a white Supro Oark 1560S.
Jimi Hendrix received his first acoustic guitar, an old second-hand instrument purchased by his father for around $5.
In May 1961, Jimi Hendrix enlisted in the Army and was granted the privilege to wear the “Screaming Eagles” patch for the paratroop division.
Given a choice between prison and joining the Army due to his involvement in car thefts, Jimi Hendrix enlisted on May 31, 1961. He completed basic training and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Jimi Hendrix acquired his first electric guitar, marking a significant shift in his musical journey.
Jimi Hendrix, while serving as a paratrooper in the army at Fort Ord, California, established the band King Kasuals with fellow soldiers to entertain troops.
On November 3, 1961, Jimi Hendrix formed the band 'The King Casuals'.
After completing basic training, Jimi Hendrix was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky on November 8, 1961.
On January 11, 1962, Major General Charles W. G. Rich awarded Jimi Hendrix the prestigious Screaming Eagles patch after completing his paratrooper training.
After facing criticism for his conduct and attitude in the Army, Jimi Hendrix was granted an honorable discharge on June 29, 1962, by Captain Gilbert Batchman. Hendrix later falsely claimed a medical discharge.
Jimi Hendrix received an honorable discharge from the army after his service, marking the end of his military career.
In September 1963, Jimi Hendrix and Cox formed a band called the King Kasuals in Clarksville, Tennessee. Hendrix learned to play guitar with his teeth after watching another guitarist perform this gimmick.
In January 1964, feeling he had outgrown the circuit artistically, Hendrix moved into the Hotel Theresa in Harlem, where he befriended Lithofayne Pridgon and won first prize in the Apollo Theater amateur contest.
In March 1964, Jimi Hendrix recorded the two-part single 'Testify' with the Isley Brothers, marking his early ventures into professional music recordings.
In October 1964, Jimi Hendrix grew tired of playing the same set every night with The Isleys and left the band. He then joined Little Richard's touring band, the Upsetters.
On February 24, 1965, Jimi Hendrix performed at Marquee Acts alongside artists like Ike and Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, the Isley Brothers, and Little Richard throughout 1965.
On July 27, 1965, Jimi Hendrix signed his first recording contract with Juggy Murray at Sue Records and Copa Management. This marked a significant step in his music career.
On October 15, 1965, Jimi Hendrix signed a three-year recording contract with entrepreneur Ed Chalpin. This contract later caused legal and career problems for Hendrix.
Jimi Hendrix receives an honorable discharge after breaking his ankle during a jump.
Jimi Hendrix burns his Fender Stratocaster on stage during a performance.
On September 24, 1966, Jimi Hendrix signed a management and production contract with Chas Chandler, who brought him to London and formed the Jimi Hendrix Experience. This marked a significant turning point in Hendrix's career.
On September 26, 1966, Johnny Allen Hendrix officially changed his name to Jimi Hendrix.
On October 11, 1966, Jimi Hendrix acquired Marshall amplifiers after being introduced to them by drummer Mitch Mitchell. This marked the beginning of his iconic association with Marshall amps and his signature overdriven sound.
On October 13, 1966, the Jimi Hendrix Experience performed their first show at the Novelty in Evreux, France. The performance was enthusiastically received and marked the beginning of the band's journey to success.
On October 18, 1966, the Jimi Hendrix Experience performed at the Olympia theatre in Paris. This performance is the earliest known recording of the band and showcased their talent to a wider audience.
On October 23, 1966, the Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded their first song, 'Hey Joe'. This marked an important milestone in the band's musical journey.
On November 2, 1966, the Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded 'Stone Free', which was Hendrix's first songwriting effort after arriving in England. This marked an important milestone in the band's musical journey.
From November 8 to 11, 1966, The Jimi Hendrix Experience had a short residency at the Big Apple club in Munich, their first gigs in Germany. It was during this residency that Hendrix's iconic guitar smashing incident took place, shaping the band's stage presence.
Jimi Hendrix and Chas Chandler fly to London to form the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Chandler becomes the manager and they decide to change James to Jimi.
On February 24, 1967, Jimi Hendrix's band, The Experience, saw their first single 'Hey Joe' reach No. 6 on the UK charts.
On March 12, 1967, Jimi Hendrix performed at the Troutbeck Hotel in Ilkley, West Yorkshire. The gig was stopped by the local police due to safety concerns as about 900 people turned up, exceeding the hotel's capacity.
On March 31, 1967, Jimi Hendrix set his guitar on fire at the London Astoria after a dynamic performance. This stunt led to him being labeled the 'Black Elvis' and the 'Wild Man of Borneo' by London's press.
The Experience's first U.S. single, 'Hey Joe', failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100 chart upon its release on May 1, 1967.
Are You Experienced was released in the UK on May 12, 1967, spending 33 weeks on the charts and peaking at number two, being prevented from reaching the top spot by the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
On June 4, 1967, Jimi Hendrix opened a show at the Saville Theatre in London with his rendition of Sgt. Pepper's title track, just three days after its release. The performance was attended by Beatles manager Brian Epstein, George Harrison, and Paul McCartney.
In June 1967, Jimi Hendrix travelled back to America to play at the Monterey International Pop Festival, where he gained significant popularity and fame.
Are You Experienced was released in the U.S. on August 23, 1967, by Reprise Records, reaching number five on the Billboard 200.
The second album by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Axis: Bold as Love, featured innovative guitar techniques and psychedelic cover art. It reached number three on the US charts and showcased a new subtlety in Hendrix's work.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience starts a major US tour with their first show in San Francisco.
'Electric Ladyland' is released by The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
On February 18 and 24, 1969, the Experience played sold-out concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall, marking their last European appearances. The strained relations within the group led to the end of this lineup.
In May 1969, Jimi Hendrix was charged with drug possession at Toronto International Airport after authorities found heroin and hashish in his luggage. Hendrix claimed the drugs were planted by someone without his knowledge, and he was later acquitted of the charges.
During the summer of 1969, Jimi Hendrix participated in inspirational festivals like the Woodstock Music & Art Fair, where he delivered a memorable performance of the "Star Spangled Banner" with the Gypsy ensemble.
The last performance of the original Experience lineup, including Jimi Hendrix, took place at Barry Fey's Denver Pop Festival on June 29, 1969. The event was marked by police using tear gas to control the audience, and the band narrowly escaped in the back of a rental truck that was partly crushed by fans.
Jimi Hendrix performed at Woodstock in 1969 with his new band, Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, consisting of his old friends, delivering a memorable performance.
On August 18, 1969, The Jimi Hendrix Experience played its final gig at the Denver Pop Festival, marking the end of the group at the peak of their popularity.
Jimi Hendrix, Billy Cox, and Buddy Miles formed the Band of Gypsys and performed a series of shows on December 31, 1969, and January 1, 1970, leading to the release of the Band of Gypsys album.
A trio formed by Jimi Hendrix, Billy Coz, and Buddy Miles plays at Bill Graham's Fillmore East in New York.
Band of Gypsys, consisting of Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Miles, and Billy Cox, performed at a music festival at Madison Square Garden to benefit the anti-Vietnam War Moratorium Committee.
In March 1970, Jimi Hendrix embarked on a hectic worldwide tour to showcase his musical talents across different parts of the globe.
Band of Gypsies Tour kicks off as Jimi Hendrix, Billy Coz, and Buddy Miles start touring after their performance at Bill Graham's Fillmore East in New York.
On June 15, 1970, Jimi Hendrix jammed with Steve Winwood and Chris Wood at Electric Lady Studios. The next day, he recorded his first track there, titled 'Night Bird Flying'.
Jimi Hendrix played to the largest American audience of his career at the second Atlanta International Pop Festival, with as many as 500,000 people in attendance.
Jimi Hendrix's appearance at the New York Pop Festival was marred by drug consumption before the show, leading to a performance considered a disaster. This event highlighted the challenges Hendrix faced during his Cry of Love tour.
Jimi Hendrix's last concert appearance in the United States took place in Honolulu, Hawaii, marking the end of the American leg of his Cry of Love tour. This performance would be one of his final live shows before his untimely death.
The Electric Lady studio officially opened for business on August 25, 1970.
Electric Lady Studios officially opened for business on August 26, 1970, with a grand opening party held the following day. The studio was a creative outlet for Hendrix and aimed to provide a relaxing environment for his music.
Jimi Hendrix performed as the headlining act at the Isle of Wight Festival on August 31, 1970, before leaving for England.
On September 2, 1970, Jimi Hendrix abandoned a performance in Aarhus after three songs, stating 'I've been dead a long time'.
Jimi Hendrix performed in public for the last time during an informal jam at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho on September 16, 1970.
Jimi Hendrix, the renowned guitarist and singer, passes away on this day.
Jimi Hendrix suddenly died on September 18, 1970.
Jimi Hendrix was laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery in Renton, Washington on October 1, 1970.
Throughout 1977, Jimi's family and his band finally released the LP set, the First Rays of the Rising Sun, in honor of Jimi's death.
On November 14, 1991, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was dedicated to Jimi Hendrix, recognizing his legacy and impact on the music industry.
In 1992, The Jimi Hendrix Experience was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 1993, MCA Records postponed a major sale of Jimi Hendrix's publishing copyrights due to Al Hendrix's dissatisfaction with the deal. Al Hendrix insisted that he had retained veto power over the sale of the catalogue, leading to a delay in the transaction.
In July 1995, Al Hendrix reached a settlement that allowed him to regain control of his son's song and image rights. This agreement marked a significant turning point in the management of Jimi Hendrix's intellectual property.
In 1998, Jimi Hendrix was posthumously inducted into the American Indian Music Hall of Fame in its inaugural year.
In 1999, readers of Rolling Stone and Guitar World ranked Jimi Hendrix among the most important musicians of the 20th century.
In 2000, Jimi Hendrix received a Hall of Fame Grammy award for his original composition 'Purple Haze', showcasing his innovative musical style.
In 2001, Jimi Hendrix was honored with a Hall of Fame Grammy award for his recording of Bob Dylan's 'All Along the Watchtower', highlighting his unique interpretation of the song.
In 2005, The Jimi Hendrix Experience was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame.
In 2006, Jimi Hendrix's album Axis: Bold as Love was honored with a Grammy award, highlighting its impact on the music industry.
In August 2009, Experience Hendrix announced a new licensing agreement with Sony Music Entertainment's Legacy Recordings division, set to take effect in 2010. This partnership paved the way for the Jimi Hendrix Catalog Project and the release of 'Valleys of Neptune' in March 2010.
In March 2010, Legacy Recordings and Experience Hendrix launched the Jimi Hendrix Catalog Project with the release of 'Valleys of Neptune'. This marked a significant event in the posthumous management of Jimi Hendrix's music.
In 2014, the United States Postal Service issued a commemorative postage stamp in honor of Jimi Hendrix, celebrating his legacy as a music icon.
On August 21, 2016, Jimi Hendrix was posthumously inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan, recognizing his influence on the genre.
On June 23, 2019, the Band of Gypsys, a group associated with Jimi Hendrix, was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, recognizing their musical contributions.
In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine named Jimi Hendrix the greatest guitarist of all time, solidifying his legacy and influence in the world of music.