Jimi Hendrix Grave Site
Lots of musicians have called Seattle home at one time in their life.
Long before rap, grunge, and heavy metal, there was Rock & Roll. And there was Jimi Hendrix.
Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle on November 27th, 1942. As a young child he took an interest in music, playing the broom as if it were a guitar. His dad eventually found him a one-string ukulele, and then he eventually moved up to an acoustic guitar. Shortly after that he joined his first band. A year later he graduated to an electric guitar and another band.
After serving in the U.S. Army’s “Screaming Eagles” paratroop division, he began working as a session guitarist, playing with several marquis acts. He struck out on his own, playing smaller venues in Greenwich Village, and eventually moved to London where he formed the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1966. His first album, “Are You Experienced” featured songs that were to become anthems of a generation, including: “Purple Haze,” “The Wind Cries Mary,” and “Foxy Lady.”
Hendrix returned to the United States, built a recording studio in New York City, and took the country by storm. He played an electric version of the “Star Spangled Banner” at Woodstock, to critical musical acclaim and political controversy.
Hendrix died on September 18th, 1970 while on tour. He left behind a musical legacy that had embraced blues, ballads, rock, rhythm and blues and jazz, morphed into a new musical style that was distinctly his own. He never did learn how to read or write music, though.
After his death, his family had his body returned to Seattle for a burial in the family plot. Jimi’s grave, the first in the family plot, had a modest headstone that reads “Forever In Our Hearts — James M. “Jimi” Hendrix — 1942-1970.”
Following a protracted legal battle, Jimi’s father Al eventually gained rights to Jimi’s musical collection, providing financial security for the Hendrix family. Al began plans for a larger memorial for Jimi, a place where Jimi could be visited by his family by blood, as well as his larger family of fans. (An estimated 14,000 fans visit the grave every year.) The memorial will eventually be the final resting place for other family members as well.
The memorial was opened to the public in 2002, shortly after the death of Jimi’s father. Every year, on November 27th, Jimi’s birthday, fans visit the memorial to pay respect to a Seattle musical legend.
Location: The memorial is located at Greenwood Memorial Park, 350 Monroe Avenue N.E., in Renton.
Hours: The cemetery is open daily during daylight hours.
Photo credit: flickr
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June 27th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
this is my first time visiting seattle, this site inspired me to go and visit the final resting place of hendrix. hendrix changed my life with his music and tommorrow i’ll go and pay him my respect. tnx this site rocks
August 21st, 2007 at 9:43 am
absolutely the most talented guitarist that ever lived…i love his music…
August 23rd, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Hard to argue with comments like these!
October 31st, 2007 at 11:08 am
jimi hendrix is my hero
November 5th, 2007 at 10:30 am
Jimi Hendrix, Wow what a life
November 23rd, 2007 at 7:11 am
yeah!
I dig Jimi’s music to such an extent that i find myself arrogant in believing that i am his number 1 fan the world over.
He played and composed for me only how’s that!!
Love and Peace
January 30th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Im just going to say that as long as my friends and i have been listening to jimi he has always been an inspiration……for guitar. for good times and for a truly talented individual…..
This man has had such an effect on us that my one girlfriend wants All Along The Watch Tower and I want Little Wing played at our funerals…..these are the songs we chose to have our loved ones hear when were gone….
Thank Jimi…..you speak to us through your music!
February 10th, 2008 at 7:30 am
viva jimi hendrix carajo!!!!!!!
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Gone too soon, but aren’t they all. could you imagine if only he lived today ! ? see ya in the next one , i won’t be late . love you man.
May 1st, 2008 at 6:19 am
I chose Jimi Hendrix to be my teacher long time ago. Now he is teaching me from Heaven. When I play my stratocaster, I look at his picture and feel the energy that helps me to possition my fingers and make proper sound.
Thanks Jimi!
Borut Vrscay
June 26th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Jimi Hendrix is simply the most innovative, and the most exciting, guitarist in our rock history. Everybody who followed had Jimi to learn from. He had no Van Halen, Nuno Bettencourt, or Brian May. Jimi had his raw talent, and his untethered magical vision. May your time among us remain in our hearts forever.
Bill Wilkins
Melted Metal Web Radio
http://www.meltedmetal.com/
June 27th, 2008 at 7:42 am
JIMI JUST CONTINUES TO “SHOCK AND AWE” US ALL, FROM PHOENIX ARIZONA, TO OLE ST. PAUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(copyright)..ja
August 26th, 2008 at 10:21 am
man jimi was is and always be the BEST guitarist. man why so soon but i to will leave flowers on his grave.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:24 am
every one who loves jimi so much to leave a comment is the nicest im my book. good bye jimi.
September 12th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
We’re coming Jimi and should be there on Wednesday the 17th about 4:20PM. We will rock!
LD
October 11th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
This great guitar genius, named Jimi really made my life nice as his music really made me and my friends happy all day at school when iremember carried some albums and played them after school in early 70’s.Iremember even my form teacher at that time came to listen to some of his numbers at MUkuba Boys Secondary School in Kitwe ,Zambia,Africa in 1975.Iam currently in the Uk and alot of people in africa that ihave spoken to would like to listen to Hendrix’s music but due to bad economys there are no genuine musical agents. Long leave JImi Hendrix music.
October 13th, 2008 at 11:17 am
We came & paid respects & sat on your shaded bench at your resting place. It was an enlightening experience! We brought your 4 CD purple box set and listened to it exclusively for our 8 day vacation. May your music last forever!! Peace Brother!
October 14th, 2008 at 4:27 am
we still miss you Jimmi ……
November 30th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Well deserved.
My Mom’s family were Hendricks. That’s close enough for me!..
December 12th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
my names brent hendrix, i dont think im related to jimi in any way, but its kewl that i got the same last name as a musical legend. ive listened to his music since i was a little kid. you still live on through ur music jimi….peace and love.
December 18th, 2008 at 1:41 am
just watched a jimi doco. brillant artist
February 17th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
El mas grande guitarrista de todos los tiempos
May 30th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Heading up to Jimi’s gravesite tomorrow with my sister and my two kids to pay our respects and teach the kids about his greatness…
June 12th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
im only 15 but i have been listing to jimi GREAT work for a long time and he is i play gurtiar now tryin to follow in his footsteps but knowing no one can be like jimi hendirx