In March 1964, Hendrix recorded the two-part single "Testify" with the Isley Brothers. Released in June, it failed to chart.[66] In May, he provided guitar instrumentation for the Don Covay song, "Mercy Mercy". Issued in August by Rosemart Records and distributed by Atlantic, the track reached number 35 on the Billboard chart.[67]
Hendrix toured with the Isleys during much of 1964, but near the end
of October, after growing tired of playing the same set every night, he
left the band.[68][nb 11] Soon afterward, Hendrix joined Little Richard's touring band, the Upsetters.[70]
During a stop in Los Angeles in February 1965, he recorded his first
and only single with Richard, "I Don't Know What You Got (But It's Got
Me)", written by Don Covay and released by Vee-Jay Records.[71]
Richard's popularity was waning at the time, and the single peaked at
number 92, where it remained for one week before dropping off the chart.[72][nb 12]
Hendrix met singer Rosa Lee Brooks while staying at the Wilcox Hotel in
Hollywood, and she invited him to participate in a recording session
for her single, which included the Arthur Lee penned "My Diary" as the A-side, and "Utee" as the B-side.[74]
Hendrix played guitar on both tracks, which also included background
vocals by Lee. The single failed to chart, but Hendrix and Lee began a
friendship that lasted several years; Hendrix later became an ardent
supporter of Lee's band, Love.[74]
In July 1965, on Nashville's Channel 5 Night Train, Hendrix
made his first television appearance. Performing in Little Richard's
ensemble band, he backed up vocalists Buddy and Stacy on "Shotgun". The
video recording of the show marks the earliest known footage of Hendrix
performing.[70]
Richard and Hendrix often clashed over tardiness, wardrobe, and
Hendrix's stage antics, and in late July, Richard's brother Robert fired
him.[75]
He then briefly rejoined the Isley Brothers, and recorded a second
single with them, "Move Over and Let Me Dance" backed with "Have You
Ever Been Disappointed".[76] Later that year, he joined a New York-based R&B band, Curtis Knight and the Squires, after meeting Knight in the lobby of a hotel where both men were staying.[77] Hendrix performed with them for eight months.[78]
In October 1965, he and Knight recorded the single, "How Would You
Feel" backed with "Welcome Home" and on October 15, Hendrix signed a
three-year recording contract with entrepreneur Ed Chalpin.[79]
While the relationship with Chalpin was short-lived, his contract
remained in force, which later caused legal and career problems for
Hendrix.[80][nb 13] During his time with Knight, Hendrix briefly toured with Joey Dee and the Starliters, and worked with King Curtis on several recordings including Ray Sharpe's two-part single, "Help Me".[82]
Hendrix earned his first composer credits for two instrumentals,
"Hornets Nest" and "Knock Yourself Out", released as a Curtis Knight and
the Squires single in 1966.[83][nb 14]
Feeling restricted by his experiences as an R&B sideman, Hendrix
moved to New York City's Greenwich Village in 1966, which had a vibrant
and diverse music scene.[88] There, he was offered a residency at the Cafe Wha? on MacDougal Street and formed his own band that June, Jimmy James and the Blue Flames, which included future Spirit guitarist Randy California.[89][nb 15]
The Blue Flames played at several clubs in New York and Hendrix began
developing his guitar style and material that he would soon use with the
Experience.[91][92] In September, they gave some of their last concerts at the Cafe au Go Go, as John Hammond Jr.'s backing group.[93][nb 16]
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