ArtWhich rock guitarist only took up playing at age 20? Jimi Hendrix.
Hendrix grew up poor and Black in the USA's Pacific northwest. At 19, he found himself in court facing a choice of 3 years in prison or 2 years in the Army—during the Vietnam war. He chose Army, quickly managed to get thrown out, and took up guitar. By 1966 he'd moved to England, where he rocketed to fame. Hendrix was the era's most influential instrumental guitarist.
This 1967 photo of Hendrix in his prime is by Linda Eastman, photographer of such 1960s music luminaries as Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, the Doors, the Who, and Neil Young. She was the first female photographer to make a Rolling Stone magazine cover. She was known for publicity shots of bands on tour, and intimate, behind-the-scenes photos.
Hendrix died at 27, in 1970 in London. Eastman died in 1998. Her husband, former Beatles singer Paul McCartney, donated her work to V&A about a decade ago.
