Born as James Marshall Hendrix, otherwise known as Jimi. Hendrix’s career only spanned four years, but he has been known as one of the greatest guitarists ever since the start of rock ‘n roll. Hendrix rose to fame after performing at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, then later performing again at Woodstock in 1969, headlining the festival. His album Electric Ladyland, released in 1968, also gave him fame, making the album reach number 1 on the U.S. charts. 

Hendrix was inspired by other artists who inhabited genres such as blues and rock and roll, such as Robert Johnson and Elvis Presley. Often, Hendrix experimented with different tone effects on his guitar, opening a new window for music during the 60s. Hendrix has also been known to play with other rock n roll pioneers such as Little Richard, whom he played with since 1965, later into a solo career and formed the band Jimi Hendrix and the Experience, which shaped his primary musical profile. He has also been known to play with people such as Arthur Lee, the frontman of Love, one of the most racially diverse bands of the 60s. 

Hendrix tragically died after an overdose on September 18, 1970, and died of asphyxia. He left a legacy of being one of the most outstanding instrumentalists, with Rolling Stone calling Electric Ladyland, Axis: Bold as Love, and Are You Experienced among the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Rolling Stone has also ranked Hendrix as the sixth greatest artist of all time.  Hendrix was also elected to the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 14, 1991, and was inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. On digital platforms, he has 9.1 million listeners on Spotify, uniting older and younger audiences.