James Marshall "Jimi" Hendri is arguably the most influential and inventive electric guitarist in the history of rock music. Without Jimi Hendrix, rock music would still be in it's rudimentary phase. His innovation advanced the rock music to a higher level in just a few short years. Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle on November 27th, 1942 to a 17 year old mother and a US Army father. When Hendix was 9 years old, his parents divorced and his father was given custody. "My dad was very, very strict and taught me that I must respect my elders always. I couldn't speak unless I was spoken to first by grown-ups. So I've always been very quiet. But I saw a lot of things. A fish wouldn't get into trouble if he kept his mouth shut" (Connolly) Hendrix said in an 1967 interview. Hendrix's first instrument was a single string ukulele he found amid garbage he was removing from a woman's home on a side job with his father. Learning by ear, he played single notes to the tune of Elvis Presley songs. When Hendix was 16, his father purchased an acoustic guitar for $5 for Jimi per his request. Hendrix was enveloped in it, learning everything he could. Jimi's father Al once said "He strummed away on that, working away all the time, any spare time he had." (The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum). Hendrix enlisted in the Army in 1961 which he described as hell and requested his father send his guitar. Al obliged and Jimi began to skip out on his duties to play guitar which lead to his discharge and the start of his professional music career. .
After Jimi's discharge from the army, Hendrix played with R&B stars such as Little Ruchard, Isley Brothers, Sam Cooke, as well as Ike and Tina Turner between 1962 and 1965. In 1966 Hendrix joined with Chas Chandler who convinces Hendrix to go to London. There he and musicians Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell created the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Later that year, the Hendrix Experience released "Hey Joe" which reached the number four spot on the British Charts in 1967.