Jimi Hendrix Biography
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Jimi Hendrix Biography
Jimi Hendrix was and American guitarist, singer and songwriter who may be considered as one of the most influential guitarists in rock history. Throughout this biography, the highs and lows of Jimi’s life and career will be accounted.
Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942 in Seattle, Washington, USA and was named Johnny Allen Hendrix. His mother had put him in the temporary care of friends after birth. When released from the army, James Allen “Al” Hendrix (Jimi’s father), retrieved him and re-named him James Marshall Hendrix in memory of his deceased brother, Leon Marshall Hendrix. When “Al” reunited with Lucille Hendrix (Jimi’s mother), he found it hard to gain employment after the Second World War, and the family experienced financial hardship. Hendrix had two brothers, Joseph and Leon, and two sisters, Kathy and Pamela. Joseph was born with physical difficulties and was given up to state care. His two sisters were both given up for care and adoption at a relatively young age. Kathy was born blind and Pamela was born with lesser physical difficulties. Hendrix’s parents divorced when he was nine years old and his mother died in 1958. Sometimes, he was sent to live with his grandmother in Vancouver, British Columbia because of unstable household conditions. Hendrix was deeply affected by the conditions of poverty and neglect that he was raised in and grew up to be a shy and sensitive boy. Hendrix’s high school had and equitable ethnic mix of African, European, and Asian Americans which was unusual for the African Americans of this era. Around the time that his mother died, Hendrix was at the age of 15 and received his first acoustic guitar for five dollars. He learned to play by listening to others play, through tips from more experienced players and by practicing constantly. Two years later, his father bought him a white Supro Ozark, his first electric guitar. According to fellow Seattle band mates, he learned most of his acrobatic stage moves — including playing with his teeth and behind his back from a local youth, Raleigh “Butch” Snipes. Around this time he played with a couple of local bands, occasionally playing gigs in Washington State. Hendrix’s early exposure to blues music came from listening to his fathers records such