Disclaimer: I am not a Jimi Hendrix fan. I know, and like, the same 4 songs that everyone knows, and I'd probably recognize him on a few others, but I don't own or go out of my way to listen to any of them. I was still watching Sesame Street and singing along with Mr. Rogers during the few short years that he rose to stardom, transformed rock music, then died choking on his own vomit in a near-stranger's bed.

I chose this biography because I was curious about the life and career of a talented and famously tragic artist, and because it was conveniently available on loan from the library. It's obviously well researched and well written. The author presents the facts and personal accounts of Hendrix's life without judgement or bias, other than to provide some analysis on the reliability of the sources. While respectful of the man's talent and accomplishments and sensitive to challenges he faced, Cross doesn't come across as a fanboy or try to gloss over the more unsavory aspects of the man's character and choices.

Lloyd James provides a solid performance on the narration. ( )

Jimi Hendrix is a myth and a legend. Being one of the greatest guitarists of all time and having a plethora of hits will do that to your legacy. However, with all the curtains drawn over his life with such labels, it seems that it would be a challenge to pick apart his life without putting him on a pedestal. This book is the efforts of Charles R. Cross to disentangle Hendrix from all of that rigmarole. I mean, no one is born a great guitarist.

Born Johnny Allen Hendrix at 10:15 AM on November 15, 1942, Jimi had a tough time of it with his father being in the military and his mother being a poor teenager when he was born. I always have trouble with reviews for biographies, since it becomes difficult to tell when to stop putting in details. For instance, I could discuss his stint in the army, the time over in Great Britain, the Woodstock Concert, but I won’t do that.

The book is wonderful, with excellent research done on Hendrix and his family. It covers the development of his music and his life. It even has old captioned photographs and a great deal of humor in a lot of the stories told. There isn’t much more you can ask of from a biography of a famous musician. The main reason I picked this book up is that I am a fan of Hendrix’s music, and in that sense, it did not disappoint. Whether you are a fan of Classic Rock in general or Jimi Hendrix’s music in particular, you can’t really go wrong with this book. ( )

A well written account of how Jimi Hendrix evolved into the master guitarist known all over the world. He grew up in Seattle in a brokene home, desperately poor. He receives his first guitar at age 9 or 10 and from that point on he never stops learning his instrument, eventually becoming what many considered the best guitarist in the world. His rise to stardom was classic. He spent years on the road playing with different bands and barely making a living. Musicians appreciated his genius but it did not get him recognition or a record deal. He probably never would have been discovered if he hadn't met and become friendly with Keith Richards' (Rolling Stone guitarist) girlfriend, who brought him to England and introduced him to the right peoploe. Stardom then came quickly. He was intensely creative, writing many of the songs he performed, but also covering other artists. He loved Dylan, and Dylan is said to have loved his covers -- such as All Along the Watchtower. The Beatles, too, were early fans. The downward spiral is unfortunately predictable. It is our loss. Jimi had what seemed an endless source of inspiration and a real artists soul. I am not a huge Hendrix fan but I was intrigued and I'm glad to have listened to this book. Well read by the narrator, too. ( )

an engaging, though ultimately very sad story. this man was so vastly talented, but got caught up so quickly in the tangle of '60s rock celebrity. his fractured childhood was not able to sustain and guide him into adulthood. even though i knew where the story was heading, the book was a real page turner. with so much myth and legend surrounding hendrix, i reserve judgement on the veracity of everything in this book, but it certainly seems well researched - and well written. ( )

Good greif! Poor Hendrix. His life was depressing before he was even born! I didn't realize how difficult his life was and his those difficulties informed his music, particularly his fragmented relationship with his mother. ( )