Awesome African-American Rock and Soul Musicians by David Aretha

Author:David Aretha [Aretha, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4645-0946-9
Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2013-03-11T04:00:00+00:00

Young and Restless

Born in Seattle, Washington, on November 27, 1942, Hendrix endured an unusual and troubled childhood. His mother was just seventeen years old when he was born, and his father was serving in the army. Originally named Johnny Hendrix, he was later renamed James (and Jimmy) by his father. Three of his four siblings had physical disabilities, including a sister who was blind. Their parents divorced when Jimmy was nine, and their mother died in 1958. The children lived in multiple homes and facilities.

Jimmy performed poorly in school, and in ninth grade he got an F in music class. Nevertheless, he loved listening to music. Blues greats Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf were among his favorites, as were rock ’n’ roll sensations Elvis Presley and Little Richard. The Hendrixes were so poor that for a while, the closest thing Jimmy could find to a guitar was a one-stringed ukulele. In 1959, his father bought him an electric guitar, which he played left-handed. A guitarist named Butch Snipes showed Hendrix a few tricks, such as playing it behind his back and with his teeth.

Jimmy’s first gig was in the basement of a synagogue. His play was so outrageous that he was booted out between sets. Hendrix was also expelled from high school due to poor grades and absenteeism. After committing a crime, he was given the choice of going to jail or the military. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division in Kentucky. However, he performed so poorly that his commanding officers requested that he be discharged. Jimmy happily said good-bye to army life.

Afterward, Hendrix and Army buddy Billy Cox formed a band in Nashville called the King Kasuals. The band broke up, but Hendrix was such a talented guitarist that he found work backing various R&B, soul, and blues artists. He toured the South with such legendary singers as Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson. He later moved to New York and was hired by the Isley Brothers, a noted R&B/rock band. He took another step up in 1965 when he got to tour with one of his idols, Little Richard.

Hendrix, however, grew restless. “I was always kept in the background…,” he recalled. “I dug listening to top 40 R&B but that doesn’t mean I like to play it every night.”2 Hendrix wanted to break free. He yearned to create and perform his own music, to express himself through his guitar in exciting and innovative ways.

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