Jerry Velez

Percussionist on Jimi Hendrix's final recorded track, "Star Spangled Banner" (1970).

Jerry Velez is documented as a percussionist who contributed to Jimi Hendrix's final recorded work. According to the liner notes for the 1997 compilation Experience Hendrix, his specific performance appears on the track "Star Spangled Banner." While the album features extensive details about core band members like Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cox, Velez is listed strictly as a percussionist alongside Juma Sultan for this single selection. This credit places him within the specific lineup of Hendrix's last sessions with Cox and Mitchell in 1970, marking his sole documented appearance on this definitive collection.

Quick Facts

Born

15 August 1947

Birthplace

The Bronx, New York, U.S.

Instrument

Percussion
congas
drums
harmonica
vocals

Genre

Jazz fusion
funk rock
soul
blues rock
electronic
hip hop

Occupation

Musician
event producer
music director

Years active

1969–present

Past member of

Spyro Gyra
Gypsy Sun and Rainbows
Duran Duran
Chic

Facts from the source article.

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.

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.