Jimi Hendrix Biography: Children, Album, Religion, Age, Wife, Ethnicity, Awards, Height, Net Worth, Death

James Marshall Hendrix, known professionally as Jimi Hendrix, was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter whose short career reshaped rock music.

He rose to global fame in the late 1960s with The Jimi Hendrix Experience, where his innovative use of feedback, distortion, and highly skilled guitar work expanded what the electric guitar could do.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: James Marshall Hendrix
• Stage Name: Jimi Hendrix
• Born: November 27, 1942
• Date of Death: September 18, 1970 (Aged: 27 years old)
• Birthplace: Seattle, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Musician, Songwriter, and Record Producer
• Height: 1.80m
• Parents: James Allen “Al” Hendrix, Lucille Jeter
• Siblings: Leon Hendrix, Joseph Hendrix, Janie Hendrix, Kathy Hendrix, and Pamela Hendrix
• Spouse: Unknown
• Girlfriends: Kathy Etchingham (ex), Monika Dannemann (ex)
• Children: James Daniel Sundquist and Tamika Hendrix
• Relationship: Not married
• Net Worth: $150 million

Early Life and Education

James Marshall Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942, at King County Hospital in Seattle, Washington.

He was originally named Johnny Allen Hendrix before his father changed it in 1946.

He was the eldest of five children born to James Allen “Al” Hendrix and Lucille Jeter, and his early life was shaped by financial struggles and his parents’ divorce when he was nine.

He had five siblings — Leon, Joseph, Janie, Kathy, and Pamela — though some were placed in foster care or adopted due to family difficulties.

He attended Horace Mann Elementary, Washington Junior High School, and later Garfield High School, but dropped out in 1959 to focus on music.

He later joined the U.S. Army after being caught for joyriding.

He was of African American, Irish, and Cherokee descent and grew up in a Christian household, though his later outlook became more spiritual and influenced by the 1960s counterculture.

Career

James Marshall Hendrix began their career in the early 1960s as a backing guitarist on the “Chitlin’ Circuit,” where he honed his flamboyant stage presence while performing with rhythm and blues legends such as Little Richard, the Isley Brothers, and Wilson Pickett.

After relocating to New York City and forming his own group, Jimmy James and the Blue Flames, he was discovered by Chas Chandler of the Animals, who convinced him to move to London in 1966.

It was in England that he formed the Jimi Hendrix Experience, releasing the landmark 1967 debut album Are You Experienced, which featured timeless tracks like Purple Haze and Hey Joe and instantly established him as a premier force in psychedelic rock.

The growth of his career reached iconic heights following his explosive performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, where he famously set his guitar on fire, signaling a shift in the rock hierarchy.

He continued to push creative boundaries with the experimental Axis: Bold as Love and his 1968 masterpiece Electric Ladyland, which became his first and only number-one album in the United States and featured the definitive cover of Bob Dylan’s All Along the Watchtower.

His headline performance at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, during which he performed a feedback-heavy, avant-garde rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner, became a defining cultural moment of the decade and solidified his standing as an icon of the hippie counterculture.

James Marshall Hendrix has maintained an enduring industry standing through a series of critically acclaimed posthumous releases, such as the 2026 archival project Live at the Forum and continued interest in his Electric Lady Studios in New York.

His influence is felt across every genre of modern music, as he is credited with bridging the gap between blues traditions and the future of heavy metal and jazz fusion.

As of mid-2026, his legacy is preserved by the Experience Hendrix estate, which ensures that his innovative spirit and technical mastery remain a primary study for aspiring musicians, cementing his status as a permanent fixture in the global musical canon.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @jimihendrix
• Facebook Handle: Jimi Hendrix
• Twitter Handle: @JimiHendrix

Personal Life

James Marshall Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942, and would have been 83 years old in 2026 had he not passed away at the age of 27.

He maintained a status of not being married during his lifetime, though he was involved in several high-profile and long-term relationships with women such as Kathy Etchingham, who inspired many of his compositions, and Monika Dannemann, who was with him at the time of his death.

He is father to two children, a son named James Daniel Sundquist and a daughter named Tamika Hendrix, though his paternal status was a subject of legal and public discussion long after his passing.

Discography

• Are You Experienced (1967)
• Axis: Bold as Love (1967)
• Electric Ladyland (1968)
• Band of Gypsys (1970)
• The Cry of Love (1971)
• Rainbow Bridge (1971)
• Valleys of Neptune (2010)
• People, Hell and Angels (2013)
• Both Sides of the Sky (2018)
• Live at the Forum (2026)

Net Worth

James Marshall Hendrix had a net worth of about $20,000 at the time of his death in 1970, which is roughly $170,000 today when adjusted for inflation.

Since then, his estate has grown significantly through ongoing sales of his music catalog, posthumous releases, and official merchandise.

It also earns steady income from licensing deals, Electric Lady Studios, and media projects that continue to celebrate his lasting impact on music and culture.