Did You Know This Legendary Musician Has Ties to Kentucky and Tennessee?
When I think of this musician, my mind immediately goes back in time to the 1960s and 70s and the land of the hippies in California. He was an icon of Woodstock and a groundbreaking musician who inspired all generations of guitar players to come after him. Unique for his left-handedness and his beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner gives me chills every time I hear it.
But did you know Jimi Hendrix once spent some time in our neck of the woods? He enlisted in the United States Army in 1961 and was stationed at Fort Campbell, KY.
Jimi Hendrix in the U.S. Army
According to Visit Clarksville: "On May 31, 1961, Jimi Hendrix enlisted in the Army, joining the 101st Airborne Division in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, just across the Cumberland River from Clarksville. While on base Hendrix continued to hone his guitar craft while also training as a parachutist. He even befriended a bassist, Billy Cox, to play with. Not everyone on base at Fort Campbell was as entertained by Jimi’s passion for the guitar, however.
On May 24, 1962, Jimi’s platoon sergeant filed a report, stating “[Private Hendrix] has no interest whatsoever in the Army … It is my opinion that [he] will never come up to the standards required of a soldier. I feel that the military service will benefit if he is discharged as soon as possible.” Hendrix was granted an honorable discharge on June 29 that cited an ankle injury, and he formally left the Army after a brief parachutist career."
Jimi definitely was not made for military life. In a letter he wrote home to his dad he said, "There’s nothing but physical training and harassment here for two weeks, then when you go to jump school, you get hell. They work you to DEATH, fussing and fighting." That was mentioned in the biography Becoming Jimi Hendrix.
Here is a slideshow of some more great pictures documenting the guitar legend's time at Fort Campbell.
Jimi Hendrix Perfected His Guitar Skills in Tennessee
After leaving the army, Hendrix planned to go back home to Seattle but didn't have enough money for the move. He moved to nearby Clarksville, TN, and continued playing music with his army buddies around the Nashville area. This is where he continued to hone his craft until opportunities opened up for him to play with some big acts like Ike and Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, the Isley Brothers, and Little Richard.
Jimi Hendrix Experience Exploded
The rest is history as Hendrix moved to New York and then the UK. Writing huge hit albums like Are You Experienced? Axis: Bold as Love, and Electric Ladyland, changed the music world forever. Even though his life was tragically cut short, he sure made the most of the time he had. To think some of that time was spent here in the Bluegrass State and Music City is pretty cool! What is your favorite Jimi Hendrix song? Chime in on the WBKR App and let me know.
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