Description
Jimi Hendrix: Owned, Worn Signed Wool Jumper
Donated to Oxfam in London by Kathy Etchingham in the late 1960’s, Jimi later returned at the owner’s bequest to autograph a number of his donated items including this jumper. In excellent condition for it’s age and bearing a clear signature to the front in silver pen.
Early in 1966 at the Cheetah Club on Broadway at 53rd Street, Linda Keith, the girlfriend of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, befriended Hendrix and recommended him to Stones’ manager Andrew Loog Oldham and later, producer Seymour Stein.
Neither man took a liking to Hendrix’s music, and they both passed. She then referred Hendrix to Chas Chandler, who was ending his tenure as bassist in The Animals and looking for talent to manage and produce. Chandler liked the song “Hey Joe” and was convinced he could create a hit single with the right artist.
Impressed with Hendrix’s version, Chandler brought him to London in September 1966 and signed him to a management and production contract with himself and ex-Animals manager Michael Jeffery. It was Chandler who came up with the spelling change of “Jimmy” to “Jimi”.
Chandler then helped Hendrix form a new band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, with guitarist-turned-bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, both English musicians.
Shortly before the Experience was formed, Chandler introduced Hendrix to Brian Auger, Eric Burdon, Pete Townshend and to Eric Clapton, who had only recently helped put together Cream. At Chandler’s request, Cream let Hendrix join them on stage for a jam.
Hendrix performed two songs, one of which was the song “Killing Floor”. Hendrix and Clapton remained friends up until Hendrix’s death.
The first night Hendrix arrived in London, he began a relationship with Kathy Etchingham that lasted until February 1969.
She later wrote an autobiographical book about their relationship and the sixties London scene in general.