These works set the stage for his infamous appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival where he ended the show by holding his burning guitar above his head. This won him celebrity status with the American audience. From then on his albums sold millions in America and his tours were sell-outs. That year, 1967, was his big year, with four singles and two albums in the British charts and two albums on the American charts.

Though his temperamental behaviour landed him in trouble more than once, the records that he produced in the late sixties--Are you experienced? and Axis: Bold as love--are still practically untouched by the passage of time.

His final recording Voodoo Chile, was released after his death and shot to the number one position in the charts. Over 300 previously unreleased pieces of material, have appeared and more are likely to be recorded.

James Marshal Hendrix was born in Seattle, Washington, on November 27, 1942; an African American, European, Cherokee Indian and Mexican descent. An unsettled home environment made Jimi spend much of his early years staying with his grandmother, a full-blooded Cherokee Indian, in Canada.

His mother died when Jimi was 15. This was around the time that Jimi began to take a serious interest in music and playing the guitar. When he was 12 he got his first electric guitar - the instrument which shaped the next 16 years of his life.

After 14 months as a paratrooper at the age of 17, he suffered an injury and was discharged. He decided to enter the music field.

The following four years were hard work: touring the States playing back-up guitar for various R&B bands including Little Richard, Ike and Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett, the Isley Brothers and the late King Curtis among others. The conditions were not suited to his radical temperament and eventually he was drawn to New York 's Greenwich Village where he recorded with the Isley Brothers, Curtis Knight and various other artists.

Then in late 1965 he formed his first band - Jimmy James and the Blue Flames. They worked the Village clubs where he was seen by other musicians who immediately recognised his talent, and word of this young virtuoso reached ex-Animals bassist Chas Chandler. Chas was so impressed after hearing him play he offered to become his manager and persuaded Jimi to accompany him back to England.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience was formed with Noel Redding on bass and Mitch Mitchell behind the drums. The crowd cheered as Jimi performed unthinkable numbers on his guitar. Respect from his peers and adoration from the crowds was instantaneous. They toured Europe, breaking attendance records at one club after another, and then signed a recording contract.

From then on there was no looking back for Jimi. Among the high points of his life was his performance at Woodstock, where he played his politically tinted Star Spangled Banner and one other tune before walking off the stage as it 'wasn't coming together.'

Even after Jimi died in controversial circumstances at the age of 28, his stature as one of the greats of hard rock remained undiminished.

Compiled by Cultural Correspondent