Tamika Hendrix

Tamika Laurice James Hendrix was born on February 11, 1967, in Minneapolis, MN, following her parents’ unconventional relationship. Her mother, Diana Carpenter, was just 16 years old at the time, while her father, Jimi Hendrix, was 23. Despite their brief relationship in California and New York in 1966, there were no plans for marriage, and the couple eventually went their separate ways.

When Diana returned to Minneapolis to give birth to Tamika, Jimi remained unaware of his daughter for over six months. During that time, Jimi Hendrix’s whirlwind life of touring and rising fame kept him distant from this part of his personal life. In addition to Tamika, Hendrix had another child, James Daniel Sundquist, with Eva Sundquist, though Tamika and James never developed a close relationship.

Tamika’s life became more complicated after her father’s tragic death. A legal battle over Jimi Hendrix’s estate soon followed, raising questions about paternity and Tamika’s right to inherit. With no official paternity test and strict inheritance laws in New York, Tamika was ultimately denied any claim to her father’s estate.

Control of Jimi Hendrix’s estate, including the rights to his music and image, passed to his father, Al Hendrix.