Steven Roby

Steven Roby is a music historian and author primarily known for his extensive research and writings about Jimi Hendrix. His work has focused on documenting previously unknown details about Hendrix's life and career through archival research and interviews. Roby's most notable books include "Black Gold: The Lost Archives of Jimi Hendrix" (2002) and "Becoming Jimi Hendrix" (2010, co-authored with Brad Schreiber). These works have contributed significant new information to the historical record of Hendrix's early career and development as a musician. He has served as a consultant for various Hendrix-related projects and has written articles for Guitar Player, Rolling Stone, and other music publications. His research methodology involves extensive use of period documents, contemporary accounts, and interviews with musicians who knew or worked with Hendrix. Roby's work is particularly recognized for uncovering and documenting previously unknown concert dates, recordings, and biographical details about Hendrix's pre-fame years. He continues to research and write about music history, with a particular focus on the 1960s rock era.

Readers praise Roby's thorough research and ability to uncover new details about Hendrix's early career. On Amazon, reviewers highlight his use of primary sources and interviews to reveal previously undocumented performances and recordings. What readers liked: - Detailed documentation of Hendrix's pre-fame years - Inclusion of rare photographs and concert dates - Focus on factual information rather than sensationalism What readers disliked: - Some find the writing style dry and academic - Occasional repetition of information - High price point for shorter works Ratings: Amazon: "Black Gold" - 4.3/5 (47 reviews) "Becoming Jimi Hendrix" - 4.4/5 (63 reviews) Goodreads: "Becoming Jimi Hendrix" - 3.9/5 (186 ratings) One reader noted: "Roby provides concrete evidence for claims other biographers only speculated about." Another commented: "The research is impressive but the presentation could be more engaging."

Becoming Jimi Hendrix: From Southern Crossroads to Psychedelic London, the Untold Story of a Musical Genius (2010) A detailed chronological account of Hendrix's early years from 1962 to 1966, covering his time as a backing musician through his arrival in London.

Black Gold: The Lost Archives of Jimi Hendrix (2002) A comprehensive collection of rare documents, previously unpublished interviews, and historical records documenting Hendrix's musical journey and unreleased recordings.

Charles R. Cross - Cross has written definitive biographies of Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain, using extensive primary source research and interviews. His work "Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix" contains detailed accounts from Hendrix's early life in Seattle through his rise to fame.

Peter Guralnick - Guralnick's biographies of Elvis Presley and Sam Phillips focus on detailed historical documentation of early rock and roll through archival research. His two-volume Elvis biography sets the standard for music biography research methodology and comprehensive historical coverage.

David Henderson - Henderson wrote "'Scuse Me While I Kiss the Sky," combining first-hand experience of the 1960s music scene with extensive research about Hendrix. His work includes original interviews with Hendrix's bandmates and associates while documenting the cultural context of the era.

Holly George-Warren - George-Warren has written biographies of Alex Chilton and Janis Joplin based on deep archival research and new interviews. Her work focuses on uncovering previously undocumented details about musicians' early careers and development.

Clinton Heylin - Heylin has written extensively researched books about Bob Dylan using archival materials and rare documents. His work emphasizes chronological documentation and fact-checking of historical records to establish accurate timelines of musical careers.