James Marshall Hendrix was born Johnny Allen Hendrix on 27 November 1942 and died 18 September 1970. The guitarist, singer and songwriter was a considerable influence on rock music. His initial success was in the UK and Europe and he wasn't recognised in his native USA until his 1967 performance at the Monterey Pop Festival. Later, Hendrix headlined the Woodstock in 1969.

Hendrix helped develop the technique of guitar feedback with overdriven amplifiers. He was influenced by blues artists such as B B King, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Albert King, and Elmore James as well as rhythm and blues and soul guitarists Curtis Mayfield, Steve Cropper, and by some modern jazz.

Carlos Santana has suggested that Hendrix's music may have been influenced by his Native American heritage. As a record producer, Hendrix also broke new ground in using the recording studio as an extension of his musical ideas. He was one of the first to experiment with stereophonic and phasing effects for rock recording.

Hendrix won many of the most prestigious rock music awards in his lifetime, and has been posthumously awarded many more, including being inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. An English Heritage 'Blue plaque' was installed in his name on his former residence at Brook Street, London, in September 1997.

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