Hendrix, Jimi (James Marshall Hendrix), 1942–70, African-American rock guitarist, b. Seattle, Wash. Hendrix, in his short musical career, was known for an innovative and extremely influential guitar style that involved the explosive, yet often sensitively nuanced, use of feedback, distortion, and other electronically manipulated sound effects. His recordings include the albums Are You Experienced? (1967), Axis: Bold as Love (1967), and Electric Ladyland (1968); his biggest hit single was the psychedelic “Purple Haze” (1967). He toured with his bands The Experience (1967–69) and Band of Gypsys (1969–70) and appeared at both the Monterey Pop Festival and Woodstock.
See his Starting at Zero: His Own Story (2013), assembled by A. Douglas and P. Neal; biographies by C. R. Cross (2005), S. Lawrence (2005), and S. Roby and B. Schreiber (2010).
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