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On September 18, 1970, Seattle-born rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix dies in London, England, at the age of 27. He dies in a choking episode after ingesting barbiturates. His remains are returned to the United States and interred in Renton.

Hendrix learned his art playing with numerous Seattle bands and jazz orchestras, but he did not break through to stardom until his appearance at the 1967 Monterey Pops Festival. He later traveled to England where he honed his revolutionary guitar style with the encouragement of Paul McCartney. Hendrix made a triumphant return to Seattle in concert on February 12, 1968.

Sources:

Walt Crowley, Rites of Passage: A Memoir of the Sixties in Seattle (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1995).

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