Mitch Mitchell, Hendrix Drummer, Has Died

Mitch Mitchell's drumming is legendary. While some drummers have been more technical, and some more hard hitting, his unique sound has found its way into rock and roll history. He was found in his hotel room in Portland, Ore., Wednesday night, and he seems to have died of natural causes. He was 61 years old.

He was most famous for being the drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience, laying all the studio drums down, and performing live. With a foundation in jazz, Mitchell brought a sound to the JHE that was as iconic as Jimi's guitar. When Mitchell joined up with Jimi Hendrix, he did not expect the gig to take off. The trio received instant success in Britain from some of the most popular musicians of the era.

Born in West London, Mitchell had played with many bands before he joined the Experience, even auditioning for the Who. To the very end, Mitchell played with countless musical icons, and as recently as this year, he was still banging skins for Buddy Guy, Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), and Robby Kreiger (The Doors).