Photo: A. Vente (VPRO), CC BY-SA 3.0

Jimi Hendrix

1942 – 1970 · died at about 28^[1][2]

Music

Fun Facts About Jimi Hendrix

• Jimi Hendrix's guitar burning began as a publicity idea: a journalist said it was a pity he couldn't set fire to his guitar, so his manager sent for lighter fluid.^[1]
• As a schoolboy, Hendrix carried a broom around to pretend it was a guitar. A school social worker asked for funds to get him a real one, but her efforts failed.^[1]
• In 1957 Hendrix found a ukulele with only one string in some garbage he was hauling with his father, and learned to play along to Elvis Presley songs by ear.^[1][3][4]
• After being caught twice riding in stolen cars, Hendrix chose the Army over prison and trained as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division.^[1]
• Hendrix lived at 23 Brook Street in London, next door to composer Handel's former home. His blue plaque there was the first English Heritage issued for a pop star.^[1][5][6]
• Hendrix mainly played right-handed guitars turned upside down and restrung for left-hand playing, so his lowest string sounded brighter, the opposite of the intended design.^[1]
• Pablo Picasso and Jimi Hendrix were alive at the same time for almost 28 years.^[1][2][7][8]
• Jimi Hendrix was alive at the same time as Nikola Tesla — their lives overlapped for 1 year (1942–1943).^{[1][2][9][10]}

James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 as a part of his band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience; the institution describes him as "arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music".^[1]

Contemporaries

Pablo Picasso

28 yr overlap

Igor Stravinsky

28 yr overlap

Coco Chanel

28 yr overlap

Georgia O'Keeffe

28 yr overlap

Charlie Chaplin

28 yr overlap

Agatha Christie

28 yr overlap

Charles de Gaulle

28 yr overlap

Haile Selassie

28 yr overlap

J.R.R. Tolkien

28 yr overlap

Mao Zedong

28 yr overlap

Golda Meir

28 yr overlap

Duke Ellington

28 yr overlap

Their World

Questions About Jimi Hendrix

When was Jimi Hendrix born?

Jimi Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942, and died on September 18, 1970.

How old was Jimi Hendrix at death?

Jimi Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942, and died on September 18, 1970, at age 27.

What was Jimi Hendrix known for?

Jimi Hendrix was known for: Greatest electric guitarist of all time. James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 as a part of his band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience; the institution describes him as "arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music".

Who was alive at the same time as Jimi Hendrix?

Jimi Hendrix's closest contemporary was Pablo Picasso. Their lives overlapped for 28 years.