“Jimi Hendrix’s history without these hometown stories would be like Abe Lincoln without the log cabin,’ 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 9/96
“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 12/95
(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 1 /5/96
“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 12/95
“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 5/96
“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 4 25-5 1/96
“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 12/18/95
“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 12/18/96
“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 2,3/96