Many people claim Jimi Hendrix to be the greatest guitarist ever to pick up the instrument. Undoubtedly, he was one of the most creative and innovative rock musicians of all time. He is well-known for his ability to create unforeseen sonics with his instrument, as well as for his extraordinary showmanship. He was able to express his emotions into the music in such way nobody had ever done before. His superstar carrer lasted only four years but his impact on a whole genre of rock & roll music is huge. He was born Johny Allen Hendrix on the 27th of November, 1942 in Seattle, WA. He grew up with his mother beacuse Jimi’s father Al was fighting in the WWII in Europe. His mother‘s poverty and the fear of her husband’s life lead her to alcoholism. Young Jimi moved to his relatives in California and lived there until 1946, when his father returned from the war. He subsequently changed boy‘s name to James Marshall Hendrix and became fanatically religious, ineffectively trying to bring his son to religious faith, too. Jimi obtained his first guitar at the age of 16. He learned to play it while listening to the southern blues records. It has to be mentioned that he was left-handed and was forced to play the right-hand guitar, but he didn’t have any difficulties at all. At the age of 17 Jimi joined the 101st airborne divison and was trained to be a paratrooper. In those times he formed his first band along with his fellow soldier. He was honorably discharged from the army because of the broken ankle. After that he moved to New York and began his musical career. Hendrix was performing as a back-up guitarist with some well-known blues outfits, but his talents and theatral showmanship couldn’t fully develop until he became a soloist and performed alone. That happened after the Animals bassist Chas Chandler discovered him and convinced him to move to London in September 1966. Hendrix founded his own group dubbed the Jimi Hendrix Experience and released his solo debut Are You Experienced? (1967). He immediately became a superstar, unforgetable singles Hey Joe, Purple Haze and The Wind Cries Mary all reached Top 10 in UK charts and his live performances at the Monterey pop and Woodstock festivals became legendary. He played his guitar behind his back, over head, with his teeth and he even set it on fire while praying to the guitar gods who gave him such an unbelievable musical skills.