Jimi Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter, commonly considered one of the most influential musicians of his time and the greatest electric guitarist in history.  He popularized the used of the wah-wah pedal as well as legato and was also a pioneer with the use of stereophonic phasing.

It was on this day, June 20, 1969, that Jimi Hendrix appeared at the Newport ’69 Festival, with 150,000 in attendance.  The festival, also referred to as the Newport Pop Festival, was held during the three-day weekend between June 20 and June 22, 1969 in Northridge California.  The festival was a great success because of Hendrix’s band, The Jimmi Hendrix Experience.  The band’s three albums, “Are you Experienced,” “Axis: Bold as Love,” and “Electric Ladyland” were all featured in “Rolling Stone” as part of the 500 Great Albums of All Time list.

A Hollywood Walk of Fame star was dedicated to Hendrix in 1994, and he was also inducted in the the U.S. and U.K. Hall of Fames.  Hendrix passed away on September 18, 1970, just over a year after his Newport Festival appearance.