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)

The Full Jimi

This book give the full story, birth to death, of Jimi Hendrix. I thought I knew much of his story, but it seems I knew so little: the hardship of his childhood, the lack of monuments to his life, his violence, and tremendous work ethic.

I really enjoyed this!

This was good, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to any fans of Hendrix or classic rock guitarists in general.

Emotionally - "Amazing and Inspiring"

I started this book with no preconceived notions. I just wanted to know more about the Artist known as "Jimi Hendrix", whom I had seen and heard of over the years. From the very beginning of the book, I was in a trance - I did not want to stop reading. From the raw, unedited, details of the story teller, I felt as if I was there with "Jimi" during his life - This is a skill that only "the most" talented writers can do; pulling the reader deep into the story, deep into the "experience." "I highly recommend this book" to anyone looking for "Truth" and "Inspiration" from the life of "Jimi Hendrix."

amazing

I have always loved the music of Jimi, so it was amazing to learn more about his life.

Review by John N “Room Full of Mirrors”

I can’t think of anything I didn’t particularly like about this accounting and I would recommend it to anyone who has a deep interest in Jimi and loves his music. I do like this books detail and am impressed with the amount of research that was done to put it together.

A tragedy of Grecian proportions

This book was so well researched and narrated that I’m afraid my less than top rating was based more upon the sad revelations within than for any other reason. I guess I’m used to the convenient lies and exaggerations of artist biographies. This was so real, so detailed and so true that I had to put it down sometimes. It was heartbreaking.

Without the love, faith & patronage of a very few people (such as Dorothy Harding, Faye Pridgeon, Linda Keith & Chas Chandler) the world would have never known this visionary artist. His musical legacy is inestimable. His life story and the parasitism of those who have fed off of him, however, is sad & shameful.

I’m glad that I visited Jimi’s initial, simple grave in Renton, accidentally near that of his long lost mother Lucille’s, before the remaining parasites moved him away from her to a fancy mausoleum without the permission of his extended actual blood family.
Fly on, my sweet Angel.

Meticulously Researched and Well Written Bio of the Guitar G. O.A.T.

It took 4 years and 320 interviews, but Charles Cross did the life of Jimi Hendrix justice. Inspiring, tragic and at times hilarious this is a hell of a wild ride into the legend of rock’s greatest guitar player. I took off a few stars because of the awkward narration. Something about the way the reader pronounced Ws annoyed the shit outta me and distracted me from the story. “Hhhwhite” but I’m just funny like that. If you care about rock music or good biographies of the 20th Century, don’t miss this book!!!!!

must have for Hendrix fanatics.

of the 5 Jimi bios I've read, this is the best hands down. a must have.

Jimi the man

I knew much about Jimi musically, but this helped me to get to know the man, his family, and friends. It also helped me to realize all the pressures he was under with everyone wanting something from him all the time.

Interesting

The book was well informed and interesting. I listened in only a few sittings. I never realized all that Jimi endured in his short life.