6 Fascinating Facts About Jimi Hendrix You Haven’t Heard
One of the most famous people in the world is Jimi Hendrix. Though he only lived a very short life, he lived one long enough to garner a legacy.
As an icon of music, he also did his bit to push some boundaries while he was around. He was, indeed, a young man who made an incredible impact on life since he died at 27. It’s perhaps even more impressive, considering that he was only at the beginning of his music career.
Of course, there are plenty of known facts about the most famous musician ever, but a few are unknown. Many of them are surprisingly fascinating. They have a ‘wow factor’ about them, and if you’re familiar with his influence in the world, they aren’t as readily recognizable as some of his other work.
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Hendrix only became known as “Jimi” from 1966 onwards
Jimi Hendrix wasn’t born as “Jimi”. He was born and registered with the name Johnny Allen Hendrix. However, his father began calling him “James Marshall” when he returned from duty in Europe during the Second World War.
In 1966, Chas Chandler, who would go on to be his manager, spotted Hendrix playing at a gig. Chandler suggested that he be called “Jimi.” At the time, he was performing as Jimmy James.
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Couldn’t read music
When you learn that Hendrix couldn’t read music, his talent becomes even more impressive. Hendrix admitted to Dick Cavett in 1969 that he couldn’t read it and would just use his ears to learn the sounds that were being played. He would also use colors and words to express himself.
He used colors and associated them with emotions and feelings, which helped him create the sounds he wanted to base his songs around.
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A slot game based on him and his music is playable
Unless you play games at Unibet casino, you might not know that there is a slot game based on the artist and his music. The slot has gone on to become one of the most popular with players, with it being simple to play and pleasing on the eyes.
It’s also pleasing on the ears, as it features classic tracks like “Little Wing”, “Crosstown Traffic” and “Purple Haze”, thus giving players a chance to relive some of his best music.
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He was a backup for big-named artists and famous celebrities
Before he found fame and reached the limelight, Hendrix managed to work his way through the industry by being a support act for many big-named artists first.
He played as a backup guitarist when he was still known as Jimmy James for artists such as Ike and Tina Turner, Little Richard, and Sam Cooke, among many others. He also helped famous individuals outside of music with their musical careers, such as actress Jayne Mansfield. On her song “Suey,” he played lead guitar.
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Initially scared of the guitar
Given how he became accustomed to playing the guitar and how inventive he was, it’s surprising to learn that he was once scared of the musical instrument.
He admitted that it “scared me to death” because of all the sounds that he could hear from one being played. He also noted that the first guitarist he was aware of was Muddy Waters, which is perhaps why he was left feeling a little scared given what the musician could do himself.
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His dad helped set him on his path
A little-known fact is that his father, Al, is one of the people the world needs to thank for Jimi’s legacy and the way he has improved music. His father encouraged him to explore his talent and helped set him on his path.
He bought him a $5 acoustic guitar when he was 15 before buying his son a Supro Ozark 1560S, the first electric guitar Jimi had ever owned.
Hendrix was extraordinary
Even though they are among the most famous facts about Hendrix, we have not discussed how he played the guitar or the techniques he used directly.
And, yet, these lesser-known facts go just a tiny bit further to paint a picture of just how good he was. We can only imagine what he could have accomplished if he’d lived for as long as possible.
