Black Gold: The Lost Archives of Jimi Hendrix [Paperback]

Steven Roby (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2002

Black Gold: The Lost Archives of Jimi Hendrix is the first comprehensive biography to authenticate the lost sessions, previously unknown recorded collaborations, and rare film/video documents of one of the most innovative and influential rock guitarists in music history. Hendrix’s life is celebrated through exclusive interviews with people who knew him well, including his father, Al Hendrix, musicians Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin, his lover and close companion Kathy Etchingham, and many others.



Author Steven Roby sifts through a wealth of unreleased and commercially unavailable studio, live, and home recordings to chronicle every stage of Jimi Hendrix’s legendary career. In each instance, he tells the reader whether the event was documented and if it is available. In several tragic instances, the recordings are lost forever.



Black Gold is the first book to offer a comprehensive analysis of Hendrix’s unfinished album, First Ray of the New Rising Sun. Three attempts have been made so far to “finish” it, and the author explains why none have succeeded. The book also explores Hendrix’s journeys into jazz with Miles Davis, John McLaughlin, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk; his excursions into blues with B. B. King, Johnny Winter, and Buddy Guy; and his backing of early rap pioneers The Last Poets.



Black Gold features a foreword by Noel Redding, Hendrix’s bass player from 1966 to 1969, as well as 45 photos, including several rare and never-before-published shots.





• Rolling Stone magazine selected Jimi Hendrix as one of the 10 most influential artists and songwriters of the 20th century

• Although Hendrix has been dead for over 30 years, sales of his music are greater than ever, with 3 to 4 million of his official recordings sold worldwide each year

• The book contains previously unpublished information on hundreds of obscure Hendrix performances and lost tapes

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Steven Roby previously worked for the family of Jimi Hendrix and was editor and publisher of the international Hendrix fanzine, Straight Ahead. He lives in San Rafael, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Billboard Books; First edition. edition (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082307854X
• ISBN-13: 978-0823078547
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #199,660 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #94 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Composers & Musicians > Rock

More About the Author

STEVEN ROBY is a respected Jimi Hendrix historian/archivist and author of the bestseller Black Gold: The Lost Archives of Jimi Hendrix. It was selected as the Best Rock Book for 2002 by the Minnesota Spokesman - Recorder.

Roby was editor of Straight Ahead: The International Jimi Hendrix Fanzine (1989-1996), editor of the family authorized fanzine Experience Hendrix, has written feature articles and reviews for Guitar Word, Goldmine, and is a frequent contributor to the Italian Hendrix fanzine Univibes. His work has appeared online at billboard.com and forbes.com. Roby has been credited for his research in six Jimi Hendrix biographies, and two Hendrix CDs.

Roby also worked for Experience Hendrix, LLC, the Hendrix family-owned company founded by James "Al" Hendrix, helped organize numerous tribute concerts including Seattle's Jimi Hendrix Electric Guitar Festival (1995), The Jimi Hendrix Guitar Competition (1997) and in 2009 he assembled over 370 guitarists (including Jimi's brother Leon) who played "Purple Haze" in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.

Roby has lectured on Hendrix at the University of Indianapolis, the University of Victoria, and the University of California. In 2007, he began teaching a college course called Jimi Hendrix: His Life and Music, which featured a Grammy awarding producer and Hendrix's close friend Melinda Merryweather as guest speakers.

In addition to writing and teaching, Roby has worked in Bay Area radio for the past thirty years co-producing syndicated shows, as a music director, and a morning show host.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars an essential Jimi read, October 2, 2002

By 

Melani J. Whisler (Corvallis, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Gold: The Lost Archives of Jimi Hendrix (Paperback)

Ever wonder who jammed with who? This book helps you to find out. This book both a comprehensive list of all recordings of Jimi and his band, as well as an intimate look at the lifestyle of one of America's greatest musicians. I skipped over a lot of the lists and dove into the narratives that told stories of Jimi jamming with Janis Joplin, Eric Clapton (Jimi is supposedly the only guitarist to ever play Clapton off-stage), The Who and many other greats. What I enjoyed most about the book was the details about Jimi learning to play the guitar and his first gigs. Jimi is a musician that stayed true to his roots and his own unique style.
I only gave this book 3 stars because, unless you know absolutely nothing about Jimi Hendrix or some of the other musicians in the book, much of what you read you are likely to already know. Redding included many well known anecdotes as filler for his archival list, which is admirably constructed and researched. The only problem is, is that much of what is on the list is unavailable to the public.
Still, if you're a Jimi fan, you have to read it. After all, it's a book about Jimi.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accuracy and Respect ShownTowards Jimi Hendrix' Life, September 15, 2002

By 

Zachary Hitchcock (La Jolla, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Gold: The Lost Archives of Jimi Hendrix (Paperback)

"Black Gold", written by Steven Roby, is a painstakingly accurate depiction of Jimi Hendrix' life and times. As a musician, singer and guitarist, and an avid student of music history, I appreciate an author who approaches his work with the thoroughness that Steven Roby has done with this book.
I've read many books on Jimi, as well as, the Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Nirvana, Miles Davis and Joh Coltrane (By the way- thanks Miles for the Wah-wah). This book is objective and lacks that selfish bias some authors instill in their writing. Some writers aren't willing to display their subject matter exposed for all to see. They don't want to fully let the readers know all the sides to a character because something captivated an author to write about a particular person in the first place. Roby gives you the places, the names, everything, and lets the reader see where Jimi Hendrix leads them. Finally, I've got a book I can reference after so many years of speculation, rumour, and hearsay. Jimi Hendrix is one of my heroes,and Steven Roby helps me keep him my hero.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for Jimi Hendrix fans., April 28, 2002

By 

William A. Houston "blues guitarist" (Hilliard, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Gold: The Lost Archives of Jimi Hendrix (Paperback)

Steve Roby, a well known Hendrix archivist as collected information on audio, film and video recordings of Hendrix, either in circulation or 'lost'. There is a wealth of info that Hendrix collectors, such as myself, will be able to use for years. Roby also hopes that 'lost' recordings will surface from someone reading his new book.