Jimmy Hendrix was an influential American guitarist who helped develop the genre of rock music in the 1960s. He was considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time and influenced many other musicians. Hendrix grew up in a poor family and had a difficult childhood, which influenced his later music. He joined the army briefly but was discharged for behavioral issues. After leaving the army, he began pursuing a music career and found success in the UK and US in the late 1960s. Hendrix died in 1970 at age 27 from an accidental drug overdose.