Room Full of Mirrors

A Biography of Jimi Hendrix

By: Charles R. Cross

Narrated by: Lloyd James

Length: 13 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

For many, the name Jimi Hendrix conjures up a larger-than-life image of the man who set fire to guitars, women's hearts, and the status quo. In this groundbreaking account, music journalist Charles R. Cross takes a far deeper look. Beyond Hendrix's legendary onstage and offstage magnetism, and his excessive lifestyle, was a man who struggled to accept his role as an idol and privately craved the kind of normal family life he never had.

Based on more than 300 interviews and never-before-seen private documents, this audiobook recounts the entire arc of Hendrix's life, from his troubled childhood and struggle with racial prejudice to his rapid ascent in swinging London, his headlining at Woodstock in 1969, and his death a year later. As colorful and large as the decade of the 60s, this biography gives the real Hendrix the immortality he deserves.

©2005 Charles R. Cross (P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc

Critic reviews

"Cross' detailed, engrossing book makes the memory of Hendrix even stronger." (New York Times)
"One of the best biographies to date....Admirably comprehensive and well referenced, this is the Hendrix biography to acquire if you can acquire only one." (Booklist)
"An excellent portrait, probably unbeatable both for its moving depiction of his youth and thrilling rise to fame and for its myth-busting finality." (Los Angeles Times)

A true tale that reveals how dark and desperate Human Nature actually is.

All the Hype around Jimi’s Life really needed to be dispelled, if only so future generations could understand, and accept how extreme “Celebrity” appears to be such a blessing, but is actually a Curse to so many “Stars” and the people who seek to “profit” from relationships with them.

Bravo!!!!! Must buy

This author has much to be proud of. He was objective and in depth in his story telling.As a black man, I am guilty of dismissing Hendrix as being "not black enough" because he played rock and not the more popular African American genres of music. I was in error! Hendrix was a wonderful spirit! Thank You to the parties that contributed to this book. I listened to the entire book in a week. I was moved. A+++++++.

Interesting

Basically the Hendrix story. Entertaining easy to listen to. I enjoyed it and plan on getting more books on Hendrix

Fantastic! The best Hendrix biography to date

I've been a Hendrix fan for longer than I care to remember and I've read just about everything I can find on the man. Unfortunately most of what I out there is not very well written or contains a lot of misinformation. And none of it deals with his Seattle years. This is just the opposite. It is extensively well researched; the writing flows well (as does the narration); and the first half is centered around Jimi's early life and career.
This book combind with Eddie Kramer's Setting The Record Straight is all the info you'll ever need on Hendrix.

A MUST HEAR FOR ALL FANS OF HENDRIX

Would you consider the audio edition of Room Full of Mirrors to be better than the print version?

YES

What was one of the most memorable moments of Room Full of Mirrors?

The way he died

What does Lloyd James bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Personality. It was like the reader was actually there.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

How this very, very poor child from Seattle, Wa. Grew up to be admired by millions and millions of people all over the world even to this very day.

Any additional comments?

This book taught me to pursue what I love. What I'm passionate about, and to do that thing that I'm passionate about everyday. Jiml was always playing somewhere. It didn't matter to him where, so when he got he's big break, he was prepared for it.

A Great Book!

Great First Time Audiobook

This was the first audiobook for me. I’ve been an avid reader of real paper books for years. But they’ve all been sold and I’m fully digital now with a Kindle and Audible.

Anyway, I live in Seattle area now and never known the story of the life of Jimi Hendrix. As a guitarist myself I’ve always revered him. But now even more do after listening to this excellent audiobook.

Fascinating

Such an interesting book ...and so easy to listen to! I love to learn about rock legends, and this was very detailed and credible. I was sad when I finished it... in just a few days!

great book

what a great book. never been a Hendrix music fan but it was so interesting to hear his story.

Wounded Hero

I saw Jimi perform in Dallas. This book took me back. Excellent telling of his life.

Thorough and Well-read

This was a brilliantly narrated, highly-detailed account of Jimi Hendrix's life. The inclusive biography acts almost like a history textbook explaining everything from Hendrix's genealogy right down to every controversy surrounding him. The author constantly references and examines the claims of other biographies of Hendrix and weighs those against newspaper articles, personal accounts, and Hendrix's own words. It includes all the good and all the bad. I believe this will be probably the closest I ever get to hearing his life story told straight and understanding who he really was.