Hendrix was left-handed and has been playing the guitar since he was 12 years old.
In the late 1950s, he played in Seattle with R&B bands, e.g. Rocking Kings. During military service, he met bassist Billy Cox in the band King Casuals.
In 1961 he worked in the Nashville group Imperials. The following year, he starred in the Canadian band Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers. After his release from the army (1962), he settled in N.Y.C. in 1964, where he collaborated with soul singer Curtis Knight. But before that, he appeared as a studio player in the recordings of several pop stars (Little Richard, Ike & Tina Turner, Albert King, Isley Brothers, etc.). Later on, many albums were released from this time, but only under Hendrix's name.
In 1965, he founded his R&B band, Jimi James & The Blue Flames. He is discovered in New York by manager Chas Chandler, and in September 1966 they left for London together. There, Chandler acquires two teammates - drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding. The Jimi Hendrix Experience trio is formed. The first performance took place in October, at the Olympia in Paris (as the opening act of Johnny Hallyday). In December, the first single is released with a cover version of the former hit of The Leaves - Hey Joe. It is a surprising success.
The first British tour took place in the spring of 1967, and Hendrix gained a reputation not only for his eccentric performances (igniting guitar, playing with his teeth ...), but especially for his music (combination of blues, psychedelia, and hard rock) and ambiguous lyrics. This is followed by 2 more hits - Purple Haze and Wind Cries Mary and the very successful debut album Are You Experienced? (1967). He performs at the Monterey Festival in the summer and releases the successful album Axis: Bold As Love (1967) in December. In the fall of 1968, he had another big hit, originally Bob Dylan's song, All Along The Watchtower.
The double album Electric Ladyland (1968) reaches the top of the American charts. At the end of 1968, the trio disbanded after managerial disagreements, but they still attended joint concerts at the beginning of 1969. In the summer, Hendrix begins working with drummer Buddy Miles and bassist Billy Cox. In August 1969, Hendrix performed at the legendary Woodstock Festival with Electric Sky Church,
At the turn of 1969 and 1970, the band Of Gypsys (Hendrix, Miles, Cox) performed in Fillmore East, New York. But Miles soon leaves, and with the return of Mitchell, the trio takes the name Jimi Hendrix Experience again.
On September 18, 1970, Hendrix died in London with persistent drug addiction playing a role in his death. Subsequently, the song Voodoo Child reaches the top of the British charts. In March 1971, the last authorized album, The Cry Of Love, was released.