Entries in
italic either do not involve Hendrix or it's unknown / unconfirmed if he took any part.
1964
Unknown date 1964
Little Richard sees Buddy & Stacy (at the time appearing as "Soul Deuce") perform at the California Club in Los Angeles and hires them to perform as part of his revue. Buddy & Stacy stay with Little Richard until 196616.
Late 1963 / early 1964
New York City, New York
Jimi moves from Nashville, Tennesee to New York City, wins first place at the Apollo amateur night in Harlem and joins the Isley Brothers.
Early 1964
New York City, New York
"Testify" by the Isley Brothers is recorded in an unknown studio. This track is usually listed as either being recorded in March 1964 or 21 May 1964 at Atlantic Studios. Neither of these dates (or the location) is correct. The master tape is listed in the tape logs as being "purchased" by Atlantic, so they bought the master tape when it had been already recorded.The master tape numbers allocated for Testify (7920 & 7921) suggest 20 or 21 May as the date when it was added to the library when compared to numbers assigned to masters recorded on those dates, "March ?" is listed as a speculative actual recording date in the logs, so the actual recording date is unknown.
"Testify" was the first release on the Isley Brother's T-Neck label (and the only one until the label was resurrected in 1969) which was distributed by Atlantic Record Sales, so very likely the master tape was brought to Atlantic for mastering and/or pressing of the single after a distribution deal had been closed.
19 March 1964
Radio Recorders, Hollywood
Little Richard recording session for Specialty Records 13. This is Little Richard's first "comeback" recording session. Hendrix hasn't joined the band yet.
Produced by Art Rupe
Leader: Harold R Battiste Jr
Little Richard - vocals & piano
Dewey Terry Jr - guitar
Don F Harris - guitar or Fender bass
Ralph W "Chuck" Hamilton - bass
Jesse John Sailes - drums
31964-1 Well alright! Specialty LP 2136
31964-2 Miss Ann (unissued)
1 May 1964
Radio Recorders, Hollywood
Little Richard recording session for Specialty Records 13. Hendrix hasn't joined the band yet.
Leader: Little Richard
Produced by Art Rupe
Little Richard - vocals & piano
Adolph Jacobs - guitar
Dewey Terry - guitar
Rene Hall - Fender bass
James E Bond Jr - bass
Earl Palmer Sr - drums
Glenn Willings - guitar
Billy Preston, Douglas Gibbs, Jesse Kirkson, unknown - background vocals
5164-1 Bama Lama Bama Loo Specialty 692
5164-2 Poor Boy Paul Specialty 699
5164-3 Annie Is Back Specialty 692
12 May 1964
Little Richard recording session for Specialty Records. Probably a "sweetening and re-mixing date rather than a recording session" 13.
Bama Lama Bama Loo
Annie Is Back
13 May 1964
New York City, New York
"Can't Stay Away" by Don Covay & the Goodtimers is recorded with Jimi on guitar.
18 May 1964
New York City, New York
"Mercy, Mercy" by Don Covay & the Goodtimers is recorded with Jimi on guitar.
? 1964
Jimi goes on tour with the Isley Brothers
? June 1964
Olympia Theatre, Paris, France
A live recording. The liner notes to "The Specialty Sessions" list "Glenn Williams" on guitar but this is likely to be a typo and should have been "Glenn Willings" 13.
Little Richard - vocals & piano
Glenn Williams (or Willings?) - guitar
Dewey Terry - guitar
Don Harris - bass
Little Mick (Waller?) - drums
Medley: Ain't that a shame, I got a woman, Tutti frutti
24 June 1964 (- 8 July 1964?)
The Copacabana, New York City, New York
Billboard issue June 27, 1964 reports with the headline "Cooke Gets 70-ft. Buildup": "Sam Cooke, the RCA Victor recording artist who begins a two-week engagement at the Copacabana on Wednesday (24), is paying $10,000 for a month's rent for a billboard spot on Times Square...The Cooke sign, erected at the corner of Broadway and 43d Street, is about 70 feet high and weighs about 1,500 pounds...It began with a teaser campaign reading "Who's the Biggest Cook in Town" and was followed with "Sam's the Biggest Cooke in Town."
The live album "Sam Cooke at the Copa" is compiled from recordings made on the 7th and 8th of July with Sam Cooke backed by Harper Cosby - bass, Sticks Evans - percussion, June Gardner - drums, René Hall - arranger / conductor, Clif White - guitar & Bobby Womack - guitar.
early? August 1964
Big Wilt's Smalls Paradise, New York City
The 13 August 1964 issue of Jet reported: "Glistening and dripping with perspiration, singer Sam Cooke manages to preserve enough energy to join fellow performers Maxine Brown and Johnny Thunder in a little fancy footwork during party held in Cooke's honor at Big Wilt's Smalls Paradise in Harlem.". Jet was published four times a month so this party likely took place in early August.
7 August 1964
RCA studios, New York City
Two Sam Cooke recording sessions:
During the first session from 20.00 to 11.00 "I'm in the Mood for Love" is recorded with Sam backed by a 27 piece orchestra.
During the second session from 11.00 to 02.00 "Cousin of Mine" and "The Piper" were recorded. The band for "Cousin of Mine" consisted of: Harper Cosby - bass, Sticks Evans - percussion, June Gardner - drums, William Green - clarinet, René Hall - conductor & arranger, Vernon Porter - trombone, Jack Preisner - trumpet, Clifton White - guitar, Bobby Womack - guitar 1
early August 1964
The Don Covay & the Goodtimers 45 " Mercy, Mercy / Can't Stay Away" is released
18.
15 August 1964"Blues Under the Stars", Wrigley Field or White Sox Park, Chicago
With Sam Cooke, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Etta James, Marvin Gaye & Little Stevie Wonder
220 August 1964
RCA studios, Los Angeles
Sam Cooke records "That's Where it's at" with Harper Cosby - bass, June Gardner - drums, René Hall - conductor & arranger, Edgar Redmond - saxophone, Jewell Grant - saxophone, John Ewing - trombone, Clifton White - guitar, Bobby Womack - guitar
3September? 1964Nashville, Tennessee
Jimi quits the Isley Brothers.
"So then I quit, I quit them in Nashville somewhere. And eh, ??? this guy, he was on a tour with B.B.King, Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke, and all these people Chuck Jackson. So I played, eh, I was playing guitar behind a lot of the acts on the tour." Interview with Klas Burling Stockholm 25 May 1967.
? September 1964 Sam Cooke / the Valentinos -TourUnknown locations
A package tour billed as "Sam Cooke and His Revue, Featuring the Valentinos" starts in September, according to Peter Guralnick this was a 2 week tour.
4 The artists Jimi quoted in the Klas Burling Stockholm 25 May 1967 interview as having been part of the Sam Cooke tour do not quite match the list Sam Cooke gave during the 24 October 1964 WKIX radio interview (see entry further on):
Jimi lists - B.B.King, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke & Chuck Jackson
Sam Cooke lists - Jackie Wilson, Jimmy Hughes, The Upsetters, The Valentinos & "Gorgeous" George Odell
A possible explanation for this could be that Jimi actually participated in what were technically two different Sam Cooke tours, a Sam Cooke / Valentinos tour (with B.B.King & Chuck Jackson?) in September 1964 and a Sam Cooke / Jackie Wilson tour in October-November 1964. This would explain the big differences in the line-ups given by different people and also matches all known dates.
See Univibes #39 for an interview with Bobby Womack where he talks about touring with Sam Cooke & Jimi and Univibes #14 for an
interview with B.B.King where he says that he did tour with Hendrix confirming Jimi's interview comment.
19? September 1964Unknown location
The Valentinos recording session
5
16 September 1964
The ABC TV show "Shindig" [season 1, episode 1, production code 1-SHIN-64] broadcast this day features Sam Cooke performing "Tennessee Waltz", "Blowing In The Wind" and "Lucille" (the last song with the Everly Brothers). This was not a live broadcast, the songs had been taped in Hollywood, date unknown. The appearance was reported in the Billboard magazine issue of September 5, 1964 under the "People And Places" -section: "Sam Cooke will guest on ABC-TV's new show "Shindig" Sept. 16."
mid September 1964
Sam Cooke's single "Cousin of Mine / That's Where it's at" (RCA Victor 47-8426) is released in mid September, it debuts on the Cashbox Top 100 chart at #69 on the week ending September 26, 1964 and is reviewed in Billboard issue of 19 September 1964.
23 September 1964
"The Last Girl" and "Looking for a Love" by the Isley Brothers are recorded at Atlantic Studios in New York City. According to Ronald Isley Dionne Warwick sings backing vocals on this session (I can't hear any female vocals on these tracks...) Jimi is not a member of the band at this point.
Postcard to Al Hendrix, stamped 28 September 1964 in Columbus, Ohio
(Postcard depicts Port Columbus airport):
" Dear Dad. I hope everything's fine. Well here I am again, traveling to diffrent places. I'm on a tour which lasts about 35 days we're about 1/2 through it now. We've been through all the cities in the midwest east & south I'll write soon Jimmy"21
? September 1964 Sam Cooke / the Valentinos -Tour?
Columbus, Ohio
October 1964
Little Richard was booked to tour the UK and Europe but cancelled at the last minute. The 10 October 1964 issue of the UK magazine Melody Maker reported as follows: "The tour should have started at Leeds Queen's Hall last Friday. But Little Richard failed to appear, even though he was advertised as being on the bill. [At the gig] audience were offered their money back as they pelted the stage with fruit, vegetables, concert programmes [etc etc] in disgust." The date of the Leeds concert probably was / would have been 2 October 1964.
1-5 October 1964
Atlantic Studios, New York City, New York
Don Covay & the Goodtimers record tracks that will later be released on the lp's "Mercy!" & "See-saw". Hendrix is probably not involved as he has been on the road with the Sam Cook package tour though he could have been in New York at the time of the sessions.
? October 1964
New York City, New York
The Billboard magazine issue of October 10, 1964 reports in the "People And Places" -section that "Singer Sam Cooke is in New York this week for a 20th Century-Fox screen test"
Postcard to Al Hendrix, stamped 8 October 1964 in Cincinnati, Ohio
(Postcard depicts the skyline of Jacksonville, Florida):
" Dear Dad. Here we are in Florida, we're going to play in Tampa tomorrow - then Miami, we're playing all through the south. We'll end up in Dallas Texas. My home address is Atlanta. I hope everyone's ok tell Grama in Canada hi for me. Tell Leon to be kool and go to school. I must run now - take it easy - My address is 318 Fort St. APT. 3 Atlanta Ga. Jimmy"21
? October 1964 Sam Cooke / the Valentinos or Jackie Wilson -Tour?
Jacksonville?, Florida
? October 1964 Sam Cooke / the Valentinos or Jackie Wilson -Tour?
Tampa, Florida
? October 1964 Sam Cooke / the Valentinos or Jackie Wilson -Tour?
Miami, Florida
Mighty Hannibal (from the liner notes of the cd "Hannibalism!"): "Little Richard introduced me to Esquerita, the Magnificent Malochi, right here in New York. As a matter of fact, I introduced Richard to Jimi Hendrix. Jimi played some shows with me in Atlanta. He and his bass player Billy Cox used to do these shows with this guy Gorgeous George, the singer, not the wrestler. When they said that Jimi died the way that he did, I got mad. Jimi never even smoked a joint around me. He came up here and played with the isley Bros. And the Isley Bros. didn't really like the sound he had. They put Jimi out in the snow in Boston, the way I heard it. "
17 October 1964
Sheffield, UK
The Isley Brothers start an UK tour with The Zombies, The Searchers, Dionne Warwick, Alan Elsdon, Tony Sheveton and The Voodoos. MC's "Syd and Eddie" (comedy act) [line-up confirmed by a concert program]. The tour includes the following dates (source: liner notes of the cd box-set "The Zombies: Zombie Heaven"):
October
17 Sheffield, 18 Liverpool, 19 Huddersfield, 21 Colchester, 22 Luton, 23 Slough, 24 Stoke, 25 Aston, 26 Taunton, 27 Exeter, 28 Gloucester, 29 Worcester, 30 Maidstone, 31 Bournemouth
November
1 Portsmouth, 3 Cambridge, 4 Leeds (Odeon), 5 Kingston, 6 Chester, 7 Doncaster (Gaumont), 8 Stockton (Odeon), 9 Glasgow (Odeon), 10 Chesterfield (ABC), 11 Cleethorpes (ABC), 12 Birmingham (Odeon), 13 East Ham (Granada), 14 Norwich (Theatre Royal), 15 Coventry (Theatre), 16 Nottingham (Odeon), 17 Bristol (Colston Hall), 18 Croydon (ABC), 19 Tunbridge Wells (Essoldo), 20 Cannock (Essoldo), 21 Newcastle (City Hall), 23 Manchester (Odeon)
Jimi is not a member of The Isley Brothers at this point.
? October 1964 Sam Cooke / Jackie Wilson -Tour
Mobile, Alabama
According to Guralnick this was the first date of the Sam Cooke / Jackie Wilson tour.
Presented by Supersonic Attractions as "The Greatest Show of the Year" 6
21? October 1964
Birmingham, Alabama
Concert ad published in this day's issue of Birmingham World, unknown if the ad was for a concert taking place the same day 11
22 October 1964 (- 31 October 1964?) Sam Cooke / Jackie Wilson -Tour
Town Hall, Brooklyn
The Billboard magazine issue of October 17, 1964 annouces in the "People And Places" -section that "Singer Sam Cooke begins a 10-day engagement at the Town Hall, Brooklyn, Oct. 22." This date clashes badly with the next 24 October entry, this supposed 10-day engagement must have been moved, cancelled or shortened, there's more evidence for Sam Cooke having been in New Orleans & Raleigh at the time.
24 October 1964 Sam Cooke / Jackie Wilson -Tour
New Orleans, Louisiana
Presented by Supersonic Attractions as "The Greatest Show of the Year". Raleigh radio station WKIX dj Charlie Brown conducts a phone interview with Sam Cooke, "Cousin Of Mine" (then number 3 on the WKIX hit list) and "Chain Gang" are played, Sam Cooke talks about the tour lineup (Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Jimmy Hughes, The Upsetters & The Valentinos (including Bobby Womack) & MC "Gorgeous" George Odell), says that "Cousin Of Mine" will be played at Dorton Arena and says that he'll be flying to Raleigh the next morning. You can listen to the interview here. The aircheck is unfortunately undated but a WKIX survey for week ending 14 November 1964 has "Cousin Of Mine" at #35 thus confirming that the radio interview took place around October 1964. Peter Guralnick gives the date of the New Orleans gig as 24 October, taken from a concert poster. 10
25 October 1964 Sam Cooke / Jackie Wilson -Tour
J.S.Dorton Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina
Concert starts at 20.30
October? 1964 Sam Cooke / Jackie Wilson -TourKansas City, Missouri
Jimi misses the tour bus in Kansas City and thus leaves the tour, he travels back to Atlanta (with The Mighty Hannibal?). Jimi: "Then I got stranded in Kansas City cause I missed the bus. So I was in Kansas City Missouri and didn't have any money. This group came up and brought me back to Atlanta, Georgia where I met Little Richard and started playing with him for a while." Interview with Klas Burling Stockholm 25 May 1967.
October? 1964
Atlanta, Georgia
Jimi arrives in Atlanta (while playing with The Mighty Hannibal?). Jimi joins Little Richard.
31 October 1964 Sam Cooke / Jackie Wilson -Tour
unknown location, Norfolk
Presented by Supersonic Attractions as "The Greatest Show of the Year" 10
Unknown if Hendrix was still aboard the tour.
? November? 1964 Sam Cooke / Jackie Wilson -Tour
Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis
A short news item about Jackie Wilson avoiding arrest at a concert in St. Louis was published in St. Louis Post-Dispatch 2 November 10 and Jet issue 19 November 1964. Unknown if Hendrix was still aboard the tour.
? November? 1964 Sam Cooke / Jackie Wilson -Tour
Nashville?
Peter Guralnick says Jackie Wilson joined the tour again in Nashville the next night after being arrested in St. Louis (p. 603) but does not offer any source for this information. Unknown if Hendrix was still aboard the tour.
3 November 1964gro
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, Tennessee
The Billboard magazine issue of November 28, 1964 reports in the "Radio-Tv Programming" -section that "Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson broke it up recently on George Klein's WHBQ-TV (Memphis) dance show with a duet "Everybody Loves To Cha Cha Cha"". Unknown if Hendrix was still aboard the tour. Watch on YouTube
3 November 1964 Sam Cooke / Jackie Wilson -Tour
Ellis Auditorium, Memphis, Tennesee
The WHBQ-TV appearance and a concert at the Ellis Auditorium both took place on Election Day, 3 November. Unknown if Hendrix was still aboard the tour. 8
8 November 1964 Sam Cooke / Jackie Wilson -Tour
Mosque, Richmond
2 shows - 7.30 & 10.00 P.M.
Line-up given on the poster: Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, Garnet Mimms, Jimmy Hughes, Mittie Collier, The Upsetters, The Valentinos, The Upsetters Orchestra 7 Unknown if Hendrix was still aboard the tour.
November? 1964 Sam Cooke / Jackie Wilson -Tour
Dallas Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, Texas? 12
Unknown if Hendrix was still aboard the tour.
23 November 1964
Odeon, Manchester, UK
Last date of The Isley Brothers UK tour.
11 December 1964
Los Angeles, California
Sam Cooke is shot dead at the Motel Hacienda.
16 December 1964
The ABC TV show "Shindig" [season 1, episode 19, production code 15-SHIN-64] aired on this day features The Isley Brothers performing "Shout" and Adam Faith performing "It's All Right" with the Isley Brothers on back-up vocals. Jimi was probably "unemployed" in Atlanta or already playing with Little Richard at this point. 2.52 of "Shout" from this broadcast was released on the Isley Brothers compilation cd "It's Your Thing" in 1999.
1965
early January 1965
The Don Covay & the Goodtimers LP "Mercy!" is released19.
Postcard to Al Hendrix, stamped 25 January 1965 in Lafayette, Louisiana
(Postcard depicts a Holiday Inn):
"Dearest Dad - I received your letter while I was in Atlanta. I'm playing with Little Richard now - We're going toward the West Coast. We're in Louisiana now. But my address will be Los Angeles when I write again. Jimmy"21
? January 1965 with Little Richard
Lafayette?, Louisiana
? January 1965 with Little Richard
The Club 500, Houston, Texas
Jimi jams with Albert Collins 9
Postcard to Al Hendrix, stamped 28? January 1965 in Dallas, Texas
(Postcard depicts the San Ann Motel in Dallas, Texas):
" Dearest Dad
Well - we just left Houston and we're now in Dallas. we'll play around here and Ft. Worth, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Louisiana for awhile, then we'll head for California - Little Richard left Seattle not too long ago - I wished I could've been with him then But we'll make it up there again soon. Tell Ben & Ernie that Houstons swinging, Jimmy"
Reproduced in Univibes #17. The date on postal stamp is impossible to read in the small pic except for "JAN", unknown if it can be read on the card itself. The date is given as 28 January 1966 in Univibes but the card is clearly from 1965.
? January 1965 with Little Richard
Dallas, Texas
29 January 1965
The Isley Brothers record "Simon Says" and "Wild As A Tiger" at Atlantic Studios in New York City. Jimi is not involved as he's on tour with Little Richard at the time.
late January / early February 1965 with Little Richard
Ft. Worth, Texas
late January / early February 1965 with Little Richard
Tulsa, Oklahoma
late January / early February? 1965?
City Auditorium, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
It's possible Hendrix was in the band when Little Richard played in Colorado Springs during 1965. The shows MC, dj Steve Scott "remembers the bandleader being pissed that Hendrix was getting so much attention" 11
? February 1965
Jimi arrives in Los Angeles with Little Richard.
between February - April 1965
"My Diary" and "Utee" by Rosa Lee Brooks are recorded in Los Angeles.
late February / early March
The Isley Brothers release the 45 "Simon Says / Wild As A Tiger"17.
6 March 1965
Little Richard performs "It Ain't Whatcha Do" and "Lucille" on "American Bandstand" on ABC. The show was presented by Dick Clark and filmed in Los Angeles. The performance is a playback but one of the royal guardsmen behind Little Richard might actually be Jimi Hendrix doing a cameo. Unfortunately the only available video of this performance on YouTube is very fuzzy so it's hard to be certain.
around March / April 1965 with Ike and Tina Turner and Little Richard
Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, California
Jimi - "Yeah, I came out here before, yeah. I played here at the Fillmore with Ike and Tina and Little Richard about 4 or 5 years ago." Taped interview with Gus Gossert between 10-12 October 1968 at the Winterland Arena in San Francisco.
John Goddard: "My favourite Fillmore show was Little Richard. The auditorium was packed, but then again, I never went to the Fillmore during that era when it wasn't packed. Charles Sullivan really brought in the bag name acts. I was a huge Little RIchard fan, and I was up front, taking tons of pictures. It was only years later that I found out that the guitar player, who kept getting in the way, was Jimi Hendrix. I remember him because he played with his teeth and behind his neck, but to me that night, he was just this guitar player who kept getting in the way of me taking pictures of Little Richard." From the book "Harlem of the West - The San Francisco Fillmore Jazz Era" by Elizabeth Pepin and Lewis Watts.
The book suggests a date of 4 October 1964 for the concert, however Steve Roby posted on his Black Gold -book website (now offline) the following update for future editions: "The photo caption says it's from the October 1964 Little Richard concert at the Fillmore Auditorium, however, Goddard's photo shows Hendrix playing a sunburst Fender Jazzmaster, a guitar Hendrix first started using in 1965".
2 April 1965 with Little Richard
Unknown location, San Leandro, California 14
5 April 1965
Ike & Tina Turner Revue performs at The Crystal Ballroom, Portland, Oregon. Unknown if Hendrix played on this date.
April 1965
New York City, New York
Hendrix arrives in New York with Little Richard.
16 April 1965 with Little Richard
Paramount Theatre, New York City, New York
Headliner is comedian Soupy Sales, the line-up also includes the Detergents (featuring future the Archies lead singer Ron Dante), the Hullaballoos, the Exciters, Little Richard and the Royal Company, The Hollies, Sandy Shaw, Vibrations, Dee Dee Warwick, King Curtis, the Uniques and a movie showing. The show was promoted by Morris Levy who had rented the theater for a year and booked Soupy Sales to appear for one week (source: The New York Times 17 April 1965, available in the website archive)
17 April 1965 with Little Richard?
Paramount Theatre, New York City, New York
Little Richard was reportedly thrown off the bill after a few days but exactly how many shows he did perform is not known.
Postcard to Al Hendrix, stamped 2 May 1965 in New York City
(Postcard depicts a Unisphere, a sculpture made for New York World's Fair 1964-65):
" Dear Dad. Well, I made another drastic move. We're in New York now. We've been here for about a week now. I guess we'll stay here about a month, playing diffrent jobs around town here, and New Jersey. So, take it easy, write back soon. Jimmy My adress is Theresa Hotel 2090 Rm 416 7th Av NY"
5 May 1965
The ABC TV show "Shindig" [season1, episode 38, production code 18-SHIN-65] aires a "Tribute to Elvis" special on this date. Unconfirmed information about the show is that it features The Isley Brothers performing "Hard Headed Woman" and "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck". Jimi was still playing with Little Richard at this point.
Between 17 and 23 May 1965
Little Richard was advertised on the WABC 11 May 1965 radio survey to appear on the WABC-TV show "Go Go" during the following week's broadcast. Exact date of the broadcast is unknown (possibly Saturday 22nd of May) and wether Little Richard (or Hendrix) actually did appear is unconfirmed.
May 1965
Jimi recieves payment from "Little Richard's Productions" for the "period ending May 27", netto sum $166.55. This receipt was a part of the Joey Dee photo & clippings collection sold on eBay in 2003.
? 1965 with Little Richard
Long Pond Inn, Greenwood Lake, New York
Peter Sando (of the Rahgoos / Gandalf) and Eddie Gamble (playing in a band with drummer Johnny Gerard) both attend.
May? 1965 with the Isley Brothers?
Waterbury, Connecticut
Outdoor concert featuring The Blue Beats, Little Eva (?), The Angels (?), The Isley Brothers, Gary "U.S." Bonds, Soupy Sales
Exact date unconfirmed so it's not possible to say for sure wether Hendrix already had joined the Isley Brothers or if he still was with Little Richard.
Craig Carlson: "Blue Beats/Gary "US" Bonds/Isley Brothers/Soupy Sales; Waterbury, CT, Spring 1965. Bonds and Isley's were
just incredibly kinetic, jumping, dancing, leaping. The Isley's guitarist even played with his teeth and behind his back! Soupy was good, too." 20
June? 1965
New York City, New York
Jimi quits Little Richard.
- "I guess about, I guess I played with him for about 6 months, I guess. About 5 or 6 months. And I got tired of all that, played some shows with Ike and Tina Turner, and I went back to New York and played with King Curtis and Joey Dee" Interview with Klas Burling Stockholm 25 May 1967.
- "He scraped together enough money to make it to Atlanta, Georgia, where he joined the Little Richard package tour, again touring all over, finally playing with Ike and Tina Turner on the West Coast. When the tour arrived in New York Jimi left Little Richard and became one of Joey Dee's Starliters." Sleeve notes of the UK release of "Are You Experienced".
18 June - 24? June 1965
Apollo Theatre, New York City
Billboard magazine issue June 26 1965 reports under "People And Places": "Joe Tex and King Curtis head the list of performers at the Apollo Theatre, New York, for a week beginning Friday (18)". Unknown if Hendrix played with King Curtis at the time.
Around June - July? 1965
WLAC-TV studios, L & C Tower, 159 4th Avenue North, Nashville
Jimi appears as a guitar player in "The Royal Company" playing in the back-up band for Buddy & Stacy on the WLAC-TV Channel 5 show "Night Train" performing "Shotgun". On the same show Jimmy Church performs "In The Midnight Hour", the Wilson Pickett version of the song was released in late June - early July. Billy Cox has said that Jimi left and returned to Nashville several times, this could have been one of those visits...
Around June - July? 1965
Starday Studio, Dickerson Road, Nashville, Tennesee
Frank Howard & the Commanders record "I'm So Glad". Billy Cox has stated that Hendrix appears on the track, as has Frank Howard. According to Howard Johnny Jones played lead guitar and Hendrix rhythm, he also says that the flipside of the single "I'm sorry for you" also has Hendrix on it. The date of the session is unknown, but it's likely to be around this time since the Commanders appeared on the "The Beat !!!!" TV show in late 65 - early 66 performing "I'm So Glad".
? 1965
New York City, New York?
Jimi joins the Isley Brothers again.
? (summer) 1965 with the Isley Brothers
Paterson Armory. Paterson, New Jersey
See UV #40 for photo by Robert H. Wagschal
? July 1965 with the Isley Brothers
Hejaz Grotto, New Haven, Connecticut
See UV #40 for photo by Sal Manzi. The photo is credited in Univibes as having been taken at the "Hejazz Grotto Hall", this is a slight typo as the correct name & spelling of the location is "Hejaz Grotto".
27 July 1965
New York City, New York
Jimi signs an "Exclusive Recording Artist Contract" with Sue Records, Inc. & Henry "Juggy" Murray Jr. at the Sue office on 265 West 54th Street. Except for a demo recording that according to Jimi he recorded himself and brought to Juggy Murray no recordings are known to have been made for Sue. The demo has never surfaced.
? August 1965 with the Isley Brothers
Essex County Country Club, West Orange, New Jersey
See UV #40 for photo by Frank Seay
5 August 1965
Atlantic Studios, New York City, New York
"Move Over And Let Me Dance" and "Have You Ever Been Disappointed" by the Isley Brothers are recorded. See Univibes #40 for photo by Frank Seay
15 August 1965
Shea Stadium, New York City, New York
First date of the Beatles' US tour, support acts include King Curtis & the Kingpins, Cannibal & The Headhunters, Brenda Holloway and The Sounds Incorporated. The Shea Stadium concert is filmed for a tv special. Still not officially released on dvd in it's entirety (parts were used for the Beatles "Anthology" -documentary) the film apart from featuring the Beatles also includes some short glimpses of King Curtis & the Kingpins and the other support acts. Tour continues with the same line-up until 31st of August when the final concert is given at the Cow Palace, San Francisco, California.
5? October 1965
America Hotel, New York City, New York
Jimi is introduced to Curtis Knight.
6 October 1965 with Curtis Knight
Studio 76, New York City, New York
Jimi records "How Would You Feel" with Curtis Knight. "Welcome Home", "Don't Accuse Me" and "You Don't Want Me" might also have been recorded during this or other sessions in October. See the Curtis Knight 1965 studio recordings -page.
Saturday 9 October 1965 with the Isley Brothers
Bowman Gymnasium, DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana
with Booker T and the MGs, see Univibes #43 for photo and article, also online on the Univibes website: http://www.univibes.com/JimiPlaysIndiana1965.html
11 October 1965
"Hullabaloo", NBC
The Animals (with Chas Chandler) perform "It's My Life" on the tv show "Hullabaloo". Billboard issue 16 October 1965 reported: "The Animals, appearing on NBC-TV's "Hullabaloo" Oct. 11, are set to appear on the ABC-TV special "Little Red Riding Hood" to be aired Nov. 28, but due to union rules forbidding British artists to record in the States, the group will record the soundtrack in Bermuda"
15 October 1965
New York City, New York
Jimi signs a contract with P.P.X. Enterprises Inc.stating amongst other things that he'll "produce and play and/or sing exclusively for P.P.X. Enterprises Inc. for three (3) years from above date", "services will include singing and/or arrangements" and that "Jimmy Hendrix shall play instruments for P.P.X".
Contract reproduced in the booklet for the cd "The Authentic PPX Studio Recordings Vol. 2".
3 November 1965 with Joey Dee and the Starliters
Go-Go McVans, Buffalo, New York
Photos & newspaper ads from this gig (and possibly others) sold on eBay in 2003. The pictures in the eBay listing were too small for the text to be read properly, so the date(s) are currently not 100% certain. Most of the photos later popped up in bigger size on the site http://www.itsonlyrocknroll.com/, but the newspaper ads were not included. Apparently the person who took (and sold) the pictures followed the band around for a period of time, so it's not known at exactly which location the photos were taken at. One of the photos is dated 3 November on the back, but since the gig ad pics are too small to read it's not possible to check if the Buffalo date indeed was on the 3rd of November. Itsonlyrocknroll.com lists the pics as Buffalo 3 November so I'll have to take their word for it for now...
The band at this point includes Hendrix on guitar, Jimmy Mayes on drums, Calvin Duke on organ, Joey Dee on vocals and others.
Postcard to Al Hendrix, stamped 24 November 1965 in Lynn, Massachusetts
(Postcard depicts Castle Mar Motel, Revere Beach, Massachusetts):
"Dear Dad - We're in Boston Mass. We'll be here for about 10 days. We're actually playing in Revere. tell "Ernie" I'm in her home state - I'm playing up here with Joey Dee and the Starliters. I hope everything's alright - we're right next to the ocean right across the street! Jimmy"
Reproduced in Univibes #5.
? November 1965 with Joey Dee and the Starliters
Revere, Massachusetts
? November? 1965 with Chuck Jackson and Joey Dee & the Starliters ?
Cleveland, Ohio
Jimi mentions playing with Chuck Jackson in Cleveland in an article published by "Cleveland Plain Dealer" 29 March 1968, reprinted in Univibes #28. In the book "Electric Gypsy" a concert with Chuck Jackson and Joey Dee & the Starliters is listed for Cleveland in 1965, I don't know what was the source of this information.
13 November 1965
Nashville?
The Spidells, Jimmy Church and the King Kasuals (probably featuring Billy Cox) perform at an unknown location. The poster says the show was presented by "rho epsilon rho" and took place in "Gym B" so this seems to have been an university show but exact location is unknown.
28 November 1965
ABC-TV
First broadcast of the ABC-TV special "The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood". The Animals (with Chas Chandler) appear in the show as "the Wolf Pack" and perform "Snubbed" (with Cyril Ritchard, the wolf) and "We're Gonna Howl Tonight". The original cast album for the show, "The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood" (ABC 536) was released roughly a week in advance of the tv broadcast 15. The 50 minute show was released on dvd in 2007.
29 November 1965
Atlantic Studios, New York City, New York
Ray Sharpe (with unknown backing band) records "That's The Way I Feel", "Hey Little Girl", "My Babe", "100 Pounds Of Clay", "Gettin' The Feeling (Help Me)" & "Haunted House". Nothing from this session was ever released, see the Ray Sharpe recordings-section for more details. Hendrix very likely did not participate as he was still on tour with Joey Dee & the Starliters.
4 December 1965
Atlantic Studios, New York City, New York
King Curtis with Paul Griffin - piano, Cornell Dupree - guitar, Chuck Rainey - bass & Ray Lucas - drums records "Dancing In The Streets", "Grass Skirts" & "Hollywood". "Dancing In The Streets" is released on the Atco (45-6429?) 45 "Dancing In The Streets / He'll Have To Go", the other two tracks remain unreleased. Unknown if Hendrix participated.
December 1965 with Curtis Knight
Studio 76, New York City, New York
Jimi partcipates in at least one recording session during December, possibly "Simon Says". See the 1965 studio recordings -page.
1966
Postcard to Al Hendrix, stamped 13 January 1966 in New York City
(Postcard depicts the Empire State Building):
" Dear Dad. Well...I'm just dropping in a few words to let you know that every thing's so-so here in this big raggedy city of New York. Everything's happening bad here - I hope everyone at home is alright - tell Leon I said Hello - I'll write you a letter real soon - And I will try to send a decent pitcure - So until then I hope you're doing alright. tell Ben & Ernie I play the blues like they NEVER heard - Love always Jimmy"21
21 January 1966 with Ray Sharpe with the King Curtis Orchestra
Atlantic Studios, New York City, New York
"Help Me" is recorded, personnel included: Ray Sharpe - vocals, Ray Lucas - drums, Chuck Rainey - bass, Cornell Dupree - lead guitar, Jimi Hendrix - rhythm guitar, Melvin Lastie - trumpet, "King" Curtis Ousley - tenor sax, Willie Bridges - baritone sax. Hendrix himself confirmed that he plays on the track, see Ray Sharpe recordings -section.
26 January 1966
Atlantic Studios, New York City, New York
The Coasters (with King Curtis) record "She's A Yum Yum" & "Saturday Night Fish Fry", released as the A & B sides of Atco 45-6407.
King Curtis records "Quicksand", personnel included: King Curtis - tenor sax, Paul Griffin - piano, Cornell Dupree - guitar, Hugh McCracken - guitar, Chuck Rainey - bass, Ray Lucas - drums. The track is released on the single "On Broadway / Quicksand" Atco 45-6406.
Unknown if Hendrix participated in these sessions, probably not as the tape log lists Hugh McCracken on 2nd guitar for the King Curtis session.
19 February 1966
New York City, New York
Curtis Knight signs a (second?) contract with RSVP.
27 February 1966 with King Curtis?
Pittsfield Boys' Club, Pittsfield, Massachusetts
The McCoys, The Crystals & King Curtis and his band. Poster for this concert was auctioned by www.itsonlyrocknroll.com in 2005. The auction listing claimed that Hendrix was playing with King Curtis at the time but there doesn't seem to be any actual evidence to back this up.
4 March 1966
Atlantic Studios, New York City, New York
King Curtis with Cornell Dupree - guitar (rest of the personnel unknown) records "I Left My Heart In San Francisco", "The Shadow Of Your Smile" & "On Broadway" all tracks released on the lp "That Lovin' Feeling" Atco LP33-189, "On Broadway also released on the 45 "On Broadway / Quicksand" Atco 45-6406. Unknown if Hendrix participated.
Unknown date 1966
Hendrix participates in a recording session that produces 4 tracks subsequently released as two 45s: The Icemen with "(My Girl) She's A Fox" and "(I Wonder) What It Takes" (later released as Samar S-111) and Jimmy Norman with "You're Only Hurting Yourself" and "That Little Old Groovemaker" (later released as Samar 112). These 4 tracks have similar instrumentation, "You're Only Hurting Yourself" has what sounds like The Icemen on backing vocals and they were released with consecutive Samar label numbers thus it seems likely they were all cut during one session. See the Jimmy Norman -artists entry for more information.
30 March 1966
New York City, New York
Jimi signs a publishing contract with R.S.V.P. MUSIC, INC for the track "I Ain't Taking Care of No Business". He's credited as the sole composer for the song. The contract was offered for sale by Lelands.com in 2002. See the 1966 studio recordings -page.
late March / early April 1966
The Ray Sharpe with the King Curtis Orchestra 45 "Help me (Get The Feeling)" is released.
April 1966
The Curtis Knight single "How Would You Feel / Welcome Home" featuring Hendrix on guitar is released.
15 April 1966
Atlantic Studios, New York City, New York
King Curtis (with unknown personnel) records "How About You", "Doctor Of Love", "Frog Leg", "The Train" & "He'll Have To Go". Only "He'll Have To Go" from this session has been released on the 45 "Dancing In The Streets / He'll Have To Go" Atco (45-6429?), the other tracks remain unreleased. Unknown if Hendrix participated.
16? April 1966
The Billboard magazine issue for April 16, 1966 featured on news item by Mike Gross on the frontpage with the headline "'Rocksteria' Grips New York as Clubs Sprout Up With Teen Acts". The article listed several new clubs to open in the city, including: "Opening this week are Ondine, which begins a new policy of top group bookings...Due to open April 28 is the Cheetah, a teen-oriented nightclub..."
28 April 1966 with Ray Sharpe & King Curtis
Atlantic Studios, New York City, New York
A remake of Sharpe's "Linda Lu", "I can't take it" and "Baby how about you" are recorded. Hendrix plays guitar on the session, but none of the tracks were released and the masters have been destroyed. personnel included: Ray Sharpe - vocals, King Curtis - tenor sax, Jimi Hendrix - guitar, Cornell Dupree - guitar, Chuck Rainey - bass, Ray Lucas - drums and Bernard "Pretty" Purdie - drums.
2 May (-15? May ) 1966
Ondine, New York City
The Billboard magazine reports: April 30, 1966 issue under "From The Music Capitals Of The World": "The Bobby Fuller Four will make their New York nightclub debut with a two-week engagement at Ondine beginning May 2" and in the May 14, 1966 issue in the "Talent" section: "The Bobby Fuller Four, in their opening Monday (2) night at Ondine discotheque, presented an exiting show..."
5 May 1966 with King Curtis & the Kingpins
Prelude Club, New York City, New York
Jimi plays with the Kingpins at the release party for the Percy Sledge lp "When a man loves a woman". See this link for photos: http://www.popsiephotos.com The lp sleeve can be seen as decoration in the background. The photos show the Kingpins backing Percy Sledge, Esther Phillips and Wilson Pickett. Don Covay also attended but it's unknown if he performed or was just a guest.
7 May 1966
Announced in the Billboard magazine May 21, 1966 issue: "ATLANTA - WAII-TV launched a half-hour r&b music show May 7. Host is Bill (Hoss Man) Allen, veteran r&b air personality. Titled "The !!!! Beat," the show will feature name guest artists plus the regulars of the !!!! Beat Boys Band with guitarist Gatemouth Brown and Frank Howard and the Commanders. The Saturday afternoon show is in color. " Hendrix never appered on the show but Billy Cox did, he played bass in Frank Howard and the Commanders.
12? May - 18 May 1966
Cheetah, New York City, New York
"The Village Voice", magazine published once a week in New York City, runs an ad for the Cheetah club in the 12 May issue, advertizing "The Denims and Curtiss Night" as the house bands of the club. Billboard magazine May 21, 1966 issue reported: "The Denims and Curtis Knight will be appearing at Cheetah until May 18. The Soul Searchers and the Commanders follow until June 1."
16-19 May 1966
Ondine, New York City
Billboard magazine issue May 21, 1966 reports under "Signings": "International Submarine Band opens at Ondine Monday (16) for a four-day stint"
31 May 1966
Atlantic Studios, New York City, New York
King Curtis & Bonnie Floyd (rest of the personnel unknown) record "Blast Off", released on the 45 "Pata Pata / Blast Off" (Atlantic 45-2468) (Credited to The Atlantic Sounds). Two more tracks were also recorded, credited only to Bonnie Floyd: "Castle for Two" and "Let Them Talk", these haven't been released.Unknown if Hendrix participated.
31 May 1966
New York City, New York
Mike Jeffries buys out Jimi's contract with Sue Records, Inc.
10 June 1966
New York City, New York
The Squires sign a contract with RSVP records. The signing members listed included Napoleon Anderson, Nathaniel Edmonds, Marion Booker and Jimmy Hendrix.
? June 1966
Allegro Sound Studios, New York City, New York
Curtis Knight & the Squires record four instrumentals: "Station Break", "Flying On Instruments (aka Knock Yourself Out?)", "Kato's Special (aka Hornet's Nest)" & "No Such Animal". Two of them are released on the 45 "Hornet's Nest / Knock Yourself Out" (RSVP 1124), No Such Animal will only get released after Hendrix's death and "Station Break" remains unreleased. See the 1966 studio recordings -page.
21 June 1966
New York City, New York
Jimi signs a publishing contract with R.S.V.P. MUSIC, INC for the track "No Such Animal". He's credited as the sole composer for the song. Reproduced in UV #22. He also signs a second contract for the tracks "Station Break" and "Flying On Instruments", for which he gets co-composing credit together with Jerry Simon. The second contract was offered for sale by Lelands.com in 2002.
3 August 1966
Atlantic Studios, New York City, New York
King Curtis with unknown personnel records "The Girl From Ipanema" & "Moonglow" both tracks released on the lp "That Lovin' Feeling" Atco LP33-189. Hendrix probably did not participate.
23 August 1966
Shea Stadium, New York City, New York
The Beatles appear for the 2nd time at the Shea Stadium.
August 1966
Cheetah, New York City, New York
The Bruthers perform at the Cheetah (source: advertized on a Beatles Shea Stadium flyer)
unknown date 1966 with Curtis Knight
The Lighthouse, New York City, New York
Eddie Gamble (then with Joey Seton) says he played on the same bill with Jimi (who was playing with Curtis Knight) at the Lighthouse but doesn't give a year. King George when asked in the Univibes interview about the last club that Jimi played before going to England says that Jimi played "for 4-5 days" at the Lighthouse. He also mentions "hangin out" with Jimi at the club.
unknown date 1966 with the Blue Flame
Cafe Wha?, New York City, New York
Peter Sando attends one of the concerts.
15 September 1966
Cafe au Go Go, New York City, New York
"The Village Voice" issue for 15 September runs an ad for Cafe au Go Go, advertizing Judy Roderick, The Times Square Two plus John Hammond & the Blue Flame.
15-22? September 1966 with John Hammond & the Blue Flame
Cafe au Go Go, New York City, New York
Full line-up includes Judy Roderick, The Times Square Two and John Hammond & the Blue Flame. Hendrix (with his band the Blue Flame) performs in the backing band for John Hammond Jr.
23 September 1966
Jimi flies to England with Chas Chandler.
SOURCES
1 Peter Guralnick - "Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke" (p.591) & liner notes for the 2001 Sam Cooke cd "keep movin' on" (ABKCO / Tracey Records 95632)
2 Peter Guralnick - "Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke" (p.593), Guralnick gives the location as Wrigley Field but unused tickets for this event being sold on the internet list White Sox Field instead. I don't know wether the tickets are authentic or modern "reproductions".
3 Peter Guralnick - "Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke" (p.594-595) & liner notes for the 2001 Sam Cooke cd "keep movin' on" (ABKCO / Tracey Records 95632)
4 Peter Guralnick - "Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke" (p.596)
5 Peter Guralnick - "Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke" (p.596)
6 Peter Guralnick - "Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke" (p.598-599)
7 Peter Guralnick - "Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke", poster reproduced on the opening pages of the book.
8 Peter Guralnick - "Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke", (p. 603-604)
9 Albert Collins interview published in Guitar World November 1987, quoted in Univibes #17
10 Peter Guralnick - "Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke" (p.700), Guralnick mentions concert posters for the 24 & 31 October dates plus a newspaper ad on the 21 October.
11 "Rock of ages The Doors and the Dead? Hendrix and the Who? What were they doing here?" article written by Bill Forman published in Colorado Springs Independent 2 April 2009
12 Eyewitness report by Beonis Jackson available at http://www.samcookefanclub.com/memories.html. The writer says the concert took place in 1963 but before the 1964 October-November tour Sam Cooke & Jackie Wilson hadn't toured together since 1959 so the year must have been 1964. The writer also gives the location as Dallas Convention Center but in 1964 the location was known as the Dallas Memorial Auditorium http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas_Convention_Center
13 liner notes to "The Specialty Sessions" (Specialty Records / Ace Records 3SPCD 8508-2)
14 photograph published in the liner notes to "West Coast Seattle Boy - The Jimi Hendrix Anthology" (Experience Hendrix / Legacy 88697 77037 2)
15 ad in Billboard issue 27 November 1965
16 email from Buddy Travis
17 the "Simon Says" 45 is is reviewed as a new release in Billboard issue 6 March 1965.
18 an ad for the Don Covay "Mercy, Mercy" 45 appeared in the 15 August 1964 issue of Billboard.
19 the Don Covay "Mercy!" lp was listed under "New Album Releases" in Billboard issue 16 January 1965. Next weeks issue 23 January 1965 has the album listed under "Special Merit Picks".
20 message board posting by Craig Carlson at http://user.xmission.com/pub/lists/exotica/archive/v02.n570, interview with Lance Drake of the Blue Beats http://www.60sgaragebands.com/bluebeats.html.
21 Reproduced in the book "Jimi Hendrix A Visual Documentary" by Tony Brown.
Overviews Timeline
