Jimi Hendrix

Rock icon Jimi Hendrix taught himself to play guitar by listening to the records of noted blues guitarists, such as Muddy Waters. In 1964, after several years with a number of backup bands, he drifted to New York City where his performances eventually attracted the attention of a British pop artist who persuaded him to try his fortunes in England. There, he formed a trio called the Jimi Hendrix Experience, which thanks to Hendrix’s outrageous showmanship and innovative guitar playing, quickly became a sensation throughout Europe. When he returned to the United States in 1968, the response was much the same, and both Rolling Stone and Billboard maga- zines named him artist of the year.