A self-taught guitarist Jimi Hendrix began his musical career backing such R&B greats as Ike and Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett and B.B. King. Brought to London from New York by former Animal Chas Chandler, he quickly established himself as the brightest new star on the burgeoning progressive rock scene of the early '60s. Along with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell he formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience and, after a landmark appearance at the Monterey Pop festival, released his debut album. Are You Experienced?, in September of 1967.
The album, and its successors-Axis: Bold As Love and the towering Electric Ladyland (both 1968) earned Hendrix international acclaim as the premier rock & roll innovator of his generation. A greatest hits collection, Smash Hits (1969), and an in-concert memento of his historic Monterey appearance, Otis Redding / Jimi Hendrix Experience at Monterey (1970), followed before his untimely death in September of 1970.
A posthumous studio album, The Cry Of Love, was released in January of 1971, followed by the double album soundtrack to the documentary film Jimi Hendrix in June of 1973.