Riki Hendrix

Riki Hendrix was an American rock guitarist who had been musically active since the 1970s. He is a relative of Jimi Hendrix. He was also a member of two funk bands during the 1970s, Booty People and General Caine. He eventually found popularity as a solo artist. He also did well in Singapore. He allegedly died in January, 2026.

Background Riki Hendrix was born in San Bernardino, California. A relative of Jimi Hendrix, he comes from a musical family and grew up in a household with jazz and classical musicians. He was originally known as Ricky Goodloe.

In his youth he did get to see his cousin Jimi Hendrix play live. however, due to the age differences and the fact that Jimi Hendrix was on the road a lot, he never got to know him as well as he should have.

Hendrix played semi-pro baseball for a number of years. He gave up his athletic career due to a knee injury. He then turned to music and changed his name. It would have been after the mid 1970s when this took place.

He has toured Asia, Europe and Canada. He also toured the United States with former Band of Gypsys members, Buddy Miles and Billy Cox in a tribute to Jimi Hendrix.

Career in bands 1970s - 1980s A childhood friend of Richard Le Mon Smith, he played in teenage bands with him. Along with Mitch McDowell, Robert Palmer, and Joe Phillips, they would be part of the group Booty People. They were recruited by B. B. Dickerson to open for the groups, War and Tower of Power. They opened for War in 1976 at the Swing Auditorium in San Bernardino, and for Tower of Power the same year at the Santa Barbara Bowl.

The group had success with the hit "Spirit of '76" which peaked at no. 63 on the Cash Box Top 100 R&B chart, No. 55 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart, and No. 44 on the Record World R&B Singles chart.

Mitch McDowell, Robert Palmer, and Joe Phillips left Booty People and formed General Caine. Hendrix would also be part of that group. He and Robert Palmer were the lead guitarists on the group's Let Me In album that was released in 1979.

Solo career It was reported by Billboard in the magazine's 12 July 1980 issue that Riki Hendrix had been signed to the management company, California Talent Agencies.

1990s - 2000s Riki Hendrix played guitar on the Buddy Miles album, Miles Away from Home that was released in 1997.

Along with Rosa Lee Brooks, he performed with Australian singer Jessie Sparks when she was in Los Angeles.

Appearing in Singapore, Hendrix's performance was reviewed by Melvin Singh in the 21 November 2003 issue of The New Paper. With Hendrix bending his guitar strings to the point of almost breaking, women in the audience were giggling while the men were transfixed.

In December 2003, Hendrix played at Singapore's Summer of Love 2003 concert. He and his four-piece band appeared on stage with a children's choir, performing the song "Children of Tomorrow" which had a dramatic effect on the audience.

Playing the 8:25pm – 8:50pm slot, Hendrix was the second opening act for Deep Purple at Fort Canning Park in Singapore on 10 April 2004. According to the Highway Star, his solos on "Star Spangled Banner" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" went down well as did his energetic performance and showmanship.

Also in 2004, Hendrix's album, Rainbow Gypsy Child was released. The album which featured two original members from The Band of Gypsys was mastered by Jaeson Jarrett and recorded at Metrosound Studios (Granada Hills) with engineer Tom Thomas.

On 20 November 2004, Riki Hendrix jammed on stage with Leon Hendrix, Buddy Miles and Buddy Miles Express guitarist Marlo Henderson at the La Jolla Hard Rock cafe.

Credited as Rick Hendrix, he also played on The Band of Gypsys Return album that featured Buddy Miles and Billy Cox, which was released in 2006.

2010s - 2020s On 3 July 2011, he played at the American Club in Hanoi for the Fourth of July Celebrations.

In 2019, Riki and Leon Hendrix, with members of the Steve Miller Band (Greg Douglass), Blood Sweat & Tears, a Sha Na Na member (Jocko) and local rocker Roni Lee were booked to play at the Full Circle Saloon on 8528 Magnolia Avenue in Santee, California.

His group, the Riki Hendrix Experience was booked as the headline act, appearing at the Wrightwood Place Performance Center on 10 June 2023. Hendrix and his band, which was made up of Gina Bee on keyboards, Dennis Sanchez on bass guitar, and "Thumper" Prudhome on drums played at the event in Wrightwood, CA. It was well received.

Personal life It was announced in the 19 July 2003 of The Straits Times and later that year by The New Paper that Riki Hendrix was to marry a Singaporean girl. Death According to Lucas Campbell of the Rock of Ages Radio Show, Riki Hendrix died in January 2026.

Discography + Albums Act Release Catalogue Year Notes # Riki Hendrix Rainbow Gypsy Child PPL Records P-CDA-0604-3 2004

+ Band member or guest artist Act Release Catalogue Year Format Tracks Notes # album Booty People "Spirit Of '76" / "Anyway I'm Busted" Calla Records CAS-110 1976 single band member Booty People Booty People ABC Records AB-998 1977 album band member Booty People " Slappin' Five" / "Somethin' Simple" ABC Records ABC 22035 1977 single band member Booty People "Booty People" / "Slappin' Five" ABC Records ABC 22035 1977 single band member General Caine Let Me In Groove Time Records GTR-1001 1978 album band member General Caine The Best of General Caine (Pure Funk) Groove Time Records GTR-1006 1991 album band member Buddy Miles Miles Away from Home Hip-O Records HIPD-40141 1997 album "The Change", "Solve This Problem" guitar Billy Cox & Buddy Miles The Band of Gypsys Return Image Entertainment EXP3432, Experience Hendrix EXP3432 2006 album "Manic Depression" guitar