Johnny Allen Hendrix, born in 1942, was a left handed boy with a dream of being a guitarist. In his youth, Jimi would run around his house playing a broom acting as if he were the lead guitar player for B.B. King. In his teenage years, Hendrix was arrested for riding in stolen cars. He was given a choice of enlisting in the Army or spending time in prison. In 1961, on May 31st, he joined the Army. He was placed in the 101st Airborne Division and stationed at Fort Campbell, in Kentucky. Hendrix was said to be a horrible soldier, showing no interest in being there. He was known to sleep while on duty and someone always had keep an eye on him. Not soon after, his commanding officer requested that Hendrix be discharged from the military and, after only serving one year in the Army, Jimi was released. His time in the service was not a total loss, while he was there he met a man by the name of Billy Cox and together they formed their first band, “The King Casuals”. They became rather popular in the UK, but Jimi was beginning to branch off into a different direction.
Jim Hendrix did not play a guitar. Hendrix dominated and drove a guitar like a Mack Truck with total control of those strings. “Purple Haze”
Janis Joplin had a bass raspy voice (cigarettes and whiskey) with lyrics that went to your soul and deepest emotions. “Pearl the Album”
Jim Morrison (The Doors) was was absolute magic on stage. “Light My Fire”
Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane) had a voice that was like the edge of red hot knife. “White Rabbit”
I do not like their politics, but sweet mother of god they could sing and play.
Of course towards the end of his life & career, he teamed up with Billy Cox again . . . AND Buddy Miles . . . to form the short-lived, but exceptionally awesome Band of Gypsies. Their NYE concerts at the Filmore were flat-out incredible.