November 1942 - September 1966
Not a day to day timeline of course but a quick overview for a clearer understanding of Jimmy’s formative years
All data taken many sources but this page is still being researched
in order to confirm the artists concerned and the dates. Updates to follow.
Check earlyhendrix.com for a more detailed timeline before fame.
November 27, 1942 – Birth (named Johnny Allen Hendrix).
September 1945 – His father Al returns from the army and re-names the child James Marshall Hendrix
1951 – His parents divorce.
September 1957 – Jimmy sees Elvis Presley perform at Seattle’s Sicks Stadium
February 1, 1958 – His mother Lucille dies
1959-1960 – Jimmy plays with local bands The Velvetones and The Rocking Kings
1960 – Joins Thomas & The Tom Cats. Drops out of Garfield High School
1961
May – Arrested on two occasions for joy riding in a stolen car. Joins the 101st Airborne parachute division. Meets Billy Cox
1962
January – Forms The King Kasuals with Billy Cox while still in military service at Fort Campbell, Kentucky
June – Discharged from the army. Heads for Clarksville, Tennessee.
October – Billy Cox discharched. They head for Nashville.
November – The King Kasuals become the house band at Club Del Morocco. Jimmy is 22 years old.
At the end of the year, Jimmy goes to live with Aunt Nora in Vancouver. Finds weekend gigs with Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers (featuring Tommy Chong of Cheech & Chong fame).
In 1962, Jimmy also found work backing Carla Thomas, Nappy Brown, Bob Fisher & The Barnvilles, School Boy & Ironing board Sam
1963
January – He plays for The Continentals at the Club Del Morocco.
March – Joins a tour of the south in “Gorgeous” George Odell‘s backing band. Aretha Franklin and Hank Ballard are also on the tour. Jimmy then joins Ballard’s band The Midnighters. Also plays with Slim Harpo and Tommy Tucker.
April – Back to Nashville to form a short-lived band with Billy Cox called The Imperials.
May – After being fired from Ballard’s band, he returns to Club Del Morocco in Nashville
July – The band change their name to The Casuals and play for two weeks at The Black Poodle Club in Nashville. Also perform as The King Casuals again.
Billy Cox & The Sandpipers play The Jolly Roger Club in Nashville. “Jimmy Hendrix and his magic guitar” is support act.
Jimmy also gets work in Gorgeous George’s band The Odells, backing Chuck Jackson, Jerry Butler and Solomon Burke.
August – Recording sessions with Frank Howard, Johnny Jones and George Yates & Sandra Wright
August/September – Joins Bob Fisher & The Barnvilles (Larry Lee was also in the group) who toured with The Marvelettes and The Impressions (featuring Curtis Mayfield).
November – Moves to New York and joined Lonnie Youngblood‘s band The Bloodbrothers.
1964
January – Jimmy wins the first prize at the Apollo Theater’s Wednesday Night Amateur Competition.
February – Audition for The Isley Brothers
March/April/May – Joins The Isley Brothers on tour all over America and Canada.
May – Recording session with The Isley‘s (“Testify”) and Don Covay (“Mercy Mercy”)
June – Vaious concerts with The Isley Brothers.
August – Sacked from the Isley Brothers and joins a another tour with “Gorgeous” George Odell.
September – Tour with The Tams. Tour with The Bonnevilles.
October/November – Tours with George Odell‘s band.
December – Joins Little Richard & His Royal Company.
1965
January – Tour with Little Richard.
February – Concerts with Little Richard and The Drifters. Tina Turner denied that he played with her and Ike.
March–July – More touring with Little Richard. TV appearance backing Buddy & Stacy. Recording sessions with Rosa Lee Brooks and Mr. Wiggles. Signs with Sue Records.
August – Recording session and concerts with The Isley Brothers.
September – Tour with The Isley Brothers. Jimmy gets involved with Curtis Knight who meets Ed Chalpin of PPX Enterprises for the first time.
October – First sessions with Curtis Knight. Signs with PPX Enterprises. Concerts with The Isley Brothers.
November – 10 day tour with Joey Dee and the Starlighters.
December – Sessions with Curtis Knight and live recordings at an empty Georges Club 20, Hackensack, New Jersey. ♦
1966
January – Tour with King Curtis & The Kingpins and again with Curtis Knight & The Squires, a.k.a. The Lovelights (more live recordings on January 22 at Georges Club). ♦
February – Session for a Jane Mansfield B-side (“Suey”). Tour with King Curtis & The Kingpins
March – Sessions with Curtis Knight and the single “How Would You Feel” is released. New York concert with The Lovers, backing The Drifters and The Ronettes.
April – Gigs with Curtis Knight. Session with King Curtis.
May – Gigs backing King Curtis, Sam & Dave, Wilson Picket and Percy Sledge. Gigs at the Cheetah Club with Curtis Knight, then Carl Holmes.
Jimmy James Meets Linda Keith at the Cheetah Club!
June – Jimmy meets Bob Dylan. Second Curtis Knight single “Hornet’s Nest”/”Knock Yourself Out” (both Hendrix penned instrumentals) released.
He teams up with sax player Lonnie Youngblood (who had also played with Curtis Knight) as The Bloodbrothers again. Sessions with Youngblood, The Icemen and Jimmy Norman. Jimmy also enjoyed busking in Greenwich village with Paul Caruso on harmonica and sometimes Linda Keith on vocals.
July – Club date at Ondines where The Rolling Stones see him. Passes audition to play regularly at the Café Wha? Forms the house band with Randy California on second guitar as Jimmy James & The Blue Flame. Occaisional gigs at The Night Owl also.
August– Last gig with Curtis Knight. Linda Keith brings Chas Chandler to see Hendrix at the Café Wha? Club dates backing/guesting with John Hammond Jr as The Rainflowers/Screaming Night Hawks.
September – More club dates with John Hammond Jr. at the Café à Go Go. Chas secures him a passport and clears up any binding contracts (except the one with Ed Chalpin’s PPX Enterprises, dammit!).
September 23 – Jimi leaves the USA with Chas and flies to London.
♦ = officially released live recordings