Widely recognized as one of the most creative and influential musicians of the twentieth century, Jimi Hendrix pioneered the explosive popularity of the electric guitar. Hendrix's combined fuzz, feedback and controlled distortion created a new musical sound. Because he was unable to read or write music, it is amazing that Jimi Hendrix's rise in the music took place in just four years. His unique musical language continues to influence a whole host of modern musicians.
             Jimi Hendrix's original name is Johnny Allen Hendrix. He was born at 10:15 a.m. on November 27, 1942, at Seattle's King County Hospital. He was later renamed James Marshall by his father, James "Al" Hendrix. When Jimmy was younger he took an interest in music, drawing influence from B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Holly, and Robert Johnson. Jimmy was self-taught, and his inability to read music made him concentrate even harder on the music.
             Al took notice of Jimmy's interest in the guitar, recalling "I used to have Jimmy clean up the bedroom all the time while I was gone, and when I would come home I would find a lot of broom straws around the foot of the bed." He'd ask him if he had swept the floor and Jimmy would say, 'Oh yeah'. But Al found out later that he used to be sitting at the end of the bed there and strumming the broom like he was playing a guitar.
             By the summer of 1958, Al had purchased a five-dollar, second-hand acoustic guitar from one of his friends for Jimmy. Shortly after, Jimmy joined his first band, The Velvetones. After three months with the group, Jimmy left to pursue his own interests. The following summer, Al purchased Jimmy his first electric guitar. It was a Supro Ozark 1560S and Jimmy used it when he joined The Rocking Kings.
             In 1961, Jimmy left home to enlist in the United States Army. In November 1962 he earned the right to wear the "Screaming Eagles" patch for the
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