Electric Entertainer

James Marshall Hendrix, referred to as the "greatest guitarist of all time," was born on this day in 1942 in Seattle, Washington.

A guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Hendrix is remembered for his revolutionary techniques on the electric guitar, which he used to create a range of new sounds, effects, and distortions.

As a schoolboy, Hendrix taught himself to play the guitar by listening to the albums of famous blues and rock musicians. In 1966 he became part of a trio called the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the group that brought him fame.

In this poster, Victor Moscoso and Rick Griffin convey the intensity of seeing and hearing the Jimi Hendrix Experience. To learn more about Hendrix and see more posters, visit our virtual exhibition Posters American Style. If that really rocks you, you can order the exhibition catalog, too.

Pictured: Victor Moscoso (born 1936) and Rick Griffin (1944–91), Bill Graham Presents in San Francisco: Jimi Hendrix Experience, 1968, color lithograph, 21 5/8 x 14 1/8 in., Mr. and Mrs. W. Robert Johnston, © 1968 Bill Graham Presents #142, artists Victor Moscoso and Rick Griffin.