Jerry Velez

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Lore & Background

The compilation Experience Hendrix collects songs spanning from 1966 to 1970, and it is within this closing chapter that Velez appears. He is credited specifically for playing percussion on "Star Spangled Banner," a track that also features Juma Sultan on percussion and Larry Lee on rhythm guitar. This specific instrumentation distinguishes the song from the fifteen tracks featuring the original Experience band or the five with later backing musicians, highlighting a unique sonic texture in Hendrix's 1970 output. The credit confirms his presence during these late-career recordings overseen by the family company Experience Hendrix.

In Their Own Story

The recording session for "Star Spangled Banner" marked a distinct moment in Jimi Hendrix's career, captured on the 20-song compilation released in 1997. During this track, the lineup shifted to include new contributors alongside the established rhythm section of Billy Cox and Mitch Mitchell. Jerry Velez joined Juma Sultan to provide percussion layers, adding texture to the arrangement that differed from the standard rock setup of the earlier Experience years. Larry Lee contributed rhythm guitar to this specific performance, creating a larger ensemble sound. This configuration represents one of the final recorded efforts before Hendrix's death in 1970, preserving Velez's contribution as part of the historical record found on the US release of the album.

Reader's Guide

To locate Jerry Velez's work within Jimi Hendrix's discography, listeners should consult the track listing for "Star Spangled Banner" on the Experience Hendrix compilation. The source explicitly states that personnel information is taken from the original Experience Hendrix CD US release. Under this specific entry, Velez is credited with percussion. Fans seeking to understand his role must note that he did not play on the fifteen tracks featuring the Jimi Hendrix Experience or the five songs with other later backing musicians; his contribution is isolated to this single track alongside Juma Sultan and Larry Lee. This distinction is crucial for accurate historical documentation of the 1970 sessions.

Did You Know?

• Jerry Velez is credited specifically as playing percussion on the track "Star Spangled Banner."
• He performed alongside Juma Sultan, who also played percussion on the same song.
• His contribution appears on the 1997 compilation Experience Hendrix, released by MCA.
• The song featuring Velez is part of the five tracks on the album recorded with later backing musicians Billy Cox and Mitch Mitchell.