The final copies are available at MOHAI in Seattle (Museum of History and Industry) - www.seattlehistory.org.
Once copies are no longer at the museum store and sold out,
check for dealers of out-of-print books on Amazon. 1995
208 pages; ISBN: 0-9645064-0-8; Hardbound; 8-5/8" H
/11-1/8"W
Voices from Home, is out of print and there will be no further
printings.
The final copies are available at MOHAI in Seattle (Museum of
History and Industry) - www.seattlehistory.org.
Once copies are no longer at
the museum store and sold out,
check for dealers of out-of-print books on
Amazon. 1995
Very little has been written about the first two thirds of Jimi Hendrix's
life in Seattle. Many misconceptions will be erased when you read this group
memoir from the people that knew him best- friends, family, classmates,
fellow musicians, and teachers. Featuring over 200 photographs, this book
provides a side of Jimi rarely talked about, focusing on Central Seattle
in the 1950's and 1960s. No other book is like Jimi Hendrix: Voices From Home, and it is a worthy addition
to any bookshelf.
Here's what some of the
critics have said about the book:
"Absolutely marvelous publication- a must for Hendrix lovers!"
Caesar Glebbeek; co-author of Jimi
Hendrix: Electric Gypsy; editor of Univibes
"'Jimi Hendrix's history without these hometown stories would be like
Abe Lincoln without the log cabin,' so says the author. A Seattle schoolmate
of Jimi's, Willix compiles the reminiscences of childhood friends, family
members, and early musical collaborators. Their recollections is of a shy,
good-natured little dreamer. What's so revealing is the account of Jimi's
schooldays in a uniquely liberal, multi-racial corner of 1950's America,
where he could absorb the sounds of Duane Eddy and Elvis Presley as much
as R&B - helping him become the black musician those creative genius
crossed the cultural divides like no other artist has done before."
Paul Du Noyer; MOJO
magazine; September 1996
"JIMI HENDRIX: VOICES FROM HOME is an essential book for anyone interested
in the life of Jimi Hendrix, and the ways his background shaped his music,
his outlook, and his personality. The book, largely a collection of interviews,
focuses on the two-thirds of Jimi's life when he was known as 'Jimmy,' and
lived in Seattle, Washington.... JIMI HENDRIX: VOICES FROM HOME offers many
intimate glimpses of the quiet empathy, generosity, imagination, and laughter
of Seattle's greatest musical genius; those who love his music will value
the important new perspective this volume opens up. These voices from home,
coming from dozens of individuals, speak from many different perspectives,
yet they agree about key themes: neglected aspects of Hendrix's background,
beliefs, behavior, and artistry. The book, which Willix intends to be a
'modest tribute to the greatness of a friend,' is much more. It is not only
interesting, but inspiring and enlightening."
Joel J. Brattin; Univibes;
December 1995
(Professor Joel J. Brattin (Worchester Polytechnic, MA) has reviewed
eighteen books on Jimi Hendrix. VOICES FROM HOME, he says, is the first
one he has given a five star "essential rating.")
"JIMI HENDRIX: VOICES FROM HOME is an absolutely beautiful work of
art that honors Jimi and the Seattle community in which we were all nurtured.
We shared a unique place and space in time. We are fortunate to have a perspective
on the human condition that allows us to claim legends like Jimi and Bruce
Lee as one of us. Mary Willix has made a significant contribution to humanity
by showing the world that cultures and races can, and did, live and prosper
together. So many valuable lessons are in these pages. VOICES FROM HOME
is a masterpiece; it should be required reading in college classrooms.""
Linda Lee Cadwell, author of The
Bruce Lee Story
"The book's many revelations include the fact that Hendrix idolized
proto-twang guitarist Duane Eddy and jazz master Kenny Burrell; his early
musical experiences as a member of the Rocking Teens and the Velvetones;
his interest in Martin Luther King and the Southern Christian Leadership
Conference; and even the impact of Seattle's rainy weather on his later
song lyrics.... Seven years in the making, the self-published, hard-cover
book is all the more intriguing because of the breadth of sources."
George Varga; San
Diego Union-Tribune; January 5, 1996
"Mary Willix was a childhood friend of Jimi and her book is not simply
her reminiscences. It is a collection of interviews with over seventy five
people who knew the young Jimi Hendrix, or Jimmy as he was then known. For
the most part, these are people who have either chosen to remain silent
for a quarter of a century or have simply have never been asked....... I
found the memories in VOICES FROM HOME to be fascinating and enlightening."
Steve Rodham; Jimpress,
December 1995
"JIMI HENDRIX: VOICES FROM HOME is the only book that focuses on the
years Jimi Hendrix lived in Seattle, Washington. A group memoir with more
than fifty interviews and 200 photographs, VOICES FROM HOME features Jimi's
friends, family, classmates and teachers. This album-style coffee table
book, written by Jimi's childhood friend Mary Willix, contains insight and
information not available anywhere else. You'll enjoy this one!"
Houston Tribune- City News; May 1996
"Inspired by her son's interest in the guitarist and frustrated by
how little has been documented about Hendrix's early years, Willix located
and interviewed his family and friends- a seemingly daunting undertaking
given the years since Hendrix's death at the age of 27 in September 1970....
What emerges is an intimate portrait of the young artist and an assertion
that the formative years are essential to the creative process."
Jennifer Murphy; Tucson
Weekly; April 25- May 1, 1996
"Of special interest to Seattle fans, with dozens of interviews of
people who knew Hendrix here, including his relatives. Wonderful, warm anecdotes
reveal Jimi as a sensitive, friendly, nice guy. Gives insight into the circumstances
that shaped his character, showing that his growing up in Seattle, with
its racial tolerance, natural beauty and laid-back lifestyle, was key to
his art. Many photos. Offers insight and information not available anywhere
else."
Patrick MacDonald; Seattle
Times; December 18, 1995
"The book contains interviews with Jimi's hometown friends and family
and never-before pictures of him as a child and teenager- pre-scarves, leather
and fiery electric guitar. It discusses the idea that- far from being the
out-there spaceman some people envision him as- Hendrix's groundsbreaking
music stems from his having grown up in a racially integrated community
surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of the Pacific Northwest.... In short,
(Willix) has achieved vast success in the tiny world of self-publishing."
Gina Arnold; San Diego
Reader; January 18, 1996
"VOICES FROM HOME explores Jimi's childhood roots in great detail like
no other book before. In fact, this is the entire premise for the book.
Willix focuses on three main areas of Hendrix's youth- The Music Scene;
Family and Friends; Community and School. In the Music Scene section, we
hear from former band mates like Web Loften (sax player in the Rockin' Kings)
and Luther Rabb (played music with Jimi in places like the Rotary Boys Club).
Rabb was the only childhood friend who toured with Jimi (Ballin' Jack opened
several gigs) and hung out with several months before he died.... Probably
the highlight for me was the brief recounting by Garfield school sweetheart
Betty Jean Morgan-Wallace. During the beginning of Betty Jean's interview,
she is bothered by two things: having to recall 30+ year-old memories and
the location of keys to a cedar chest that contains Jimi's handwritten messages,
army dog tags, and handful of photographs. Luckily, Betty Jean finds the
keys, and it all comes back to her.... VOICES FROM HOME may be hard to find
at your local bookstore since it is independently published and distributed.
But, if you're like me, and want to know the entire story of Jimi, you'll
seek this one out."
Steven Roby; Straight
Ahead; February/ March 1996