He soon became obsessed with the Blues his father, Al, played, and after he bought Jimmy his first gutiar, by the age of eleven, the seeds of a legendary guitarist were sewn.
In May, 1961, Jimmy (now Jimi) left for the army. He joined the 101st Airborne Paratroopers, but on his 26th jump, he sustained a substantial ankle injury and was honourably discharged.
He began to play guitar again, and soon was playing in Litlle Richard's backing band, and subsequently with Ike and Tina Turner.
In this period, Jimi learnt much of his profession, but was frustrated, as he felt he could not 'be who he wanted to be, and 'do what he wanted to do'.
He got his own band together, in which he elected to sing for the first time.
The band had a regular spot in Greenwich Village, and were spotted by Chas Chandler - former bassist with The Animals - at The Cafe Wha one night in 1966.
Chas convinced Jimi to come to London, and he soon became Jimi's manager.
On October 6th, 1966, The Jimi Hendrix Expereience was formed, with Noel Redding on bass, and Mitch Mitchell, and exploded onto the scene with 'Hey Joe' soon after.
From '66 to '70, the Experience released 3 major albums. Jimi also had a side band, 'The Band of Gypsies', an all-black trio. He released one album with them, and played Woodstock with them in '69.
On Friday, 17th October 1970, Jimi was staying in London with girlfriend Monika Danneman. He had an important gig the next day, and so took some sleeping pills to help him sleep.
When she awoke, Danneman noticed that Jimi had vomited in the night, but thought nothing of it.
Later when she tried to wake Jimi, he did not stir, and she called an ambulance. He was pronounced dead from suffocation on vomit soon after.
Before he died, he had been working on a new song ; the lyrics of which, at first glance looked like a suicide note. They read:
of life is quicker
than the blink of an eye.
The story of love
is hello and goodbye.
Until we meet again
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