An Unstable Childhood
James Marshall Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942. His childhood was troubled to say the least. Hendrix’s father, Al, was a military veteran who had trouble finding and keeping a job. He was an angry drunk, which meant that Hendrix spent most nights hiding in his closet to escape the violence in the living room.
Jimi Hendrix with his father Al 1945. Photo by Apic / Getty Images
His brother Leon was in and out of foster care, and the Hendrix family moved around a lot, spending most of their time in cheap hotels or various apartments around Seattle. This unstable environment deeply affected Hendrix, who was shy and sensitive. Hendrix’s parents divorced in 1951, and by the mid-’50s, his behavior in school caught the eye of a social worker.