Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle, Washington as John Allen Hendrix on November 27, 1942 and died at the early age of twenty seven on September 18, 1970, Kensington, London, United Kingdom

Although his years of fame were short, in those few years he was able to become the famous American musician that would influence pop music for years to come. Hendrix was a rock guitarist, specifically an electric guitarist, a singer and a songwriter.

There were many artists who influenced Jimi Hendrix’s music, but B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Holly and Robert Johnson were among the major ones. Although Hendrix couldn’t read or write, which meant that he also couldn’t read music, he didn’t let that stop him from learning to play guitar. Hendrix was self-taught. His good ear allowed him to teach himself. He started off by walking around pretending that a broomstick was a guitar, which is why his father, James “Al” Hendrix, gave him a ukulele. The ukelele became the first instrument Hendrix learned to play, but he then moved on to the acoustic guitar, followed by the electric guitar.

At age fifteen, his father bought him his first acoustic guitar. A year later, Al then bought Hendrix his first electric guitar. Hendrix started his career off by playing with Ike And Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, The Isley Brothers and Little Richard. After having a clash with Richard, who thought Hendrix was taking the spotlight, he decided to form his own band. This band became known as Jimmy James And The Blue Flames and that’s when, for the first time, Jimmy became the lead guitarist.

Jimi Hendrix’s guitar playing technique was unique and referred to as outrageous. Playing the guitar with his teeth, as well as behind his back were his two most unique guitar playing methods. However, another very unique one was that he also often played his guitar upside down. Unlike his other unique playing methods, playing the guitar upside down had a purpose, which was to accommodate his left-handedness.

Jimi Hendrix’s guitar of choice was the Fender Stratocaster, but he also played the Gibson SG, the Flying V, the Les Paul and occasionally also the Fender Jazzmaster and the Fender Duo-Sonic.

To Hendrix, music was his religion, and because of that he referred to his music as his electric church. Jimi Hendrix is recognized as an electric guitarist who helped shape the history of American pop music.