James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time.

Hendrix began playing guitar at age 15. In 1961, he enlisted in the US Army, but was discharged the following year. Soon afterward, he began playing gigs on the Chitlin' Circuit, in the Isley Brothers' backing band and later with Little Richard, with whom he continued to work through mid-1965. He then played with Curtis Knight and the Squires.

He moved to England in late 1966, after bassist Chas Chandler of the Animals became his manager. Within months, he formed the Jimi Hendrix Experience, with its rhythm section consisting of bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell.

"Little Wing" was released on his second album, Axis: Bold as Love, in December 1967 in the UK and the following month in the US. It's one of his most popular songs and has become a standard, with interpretations recorded by musicians in a variety of styles. In 2004, Rolling Stone included "Little Wing" on its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" at number 357.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 as a part of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The institution describes him as "arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music."