“I’m docking you three weeks’ pay for that because it’s not a great deal.”

Throughout his career, guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter has guested on recordings by some of popular music’s most renowned names, including Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, Rod Stewart, and Gene Simmons, and was a full-fledged member of Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers during each band’s stellar ’70s period.But before he began playing with the aforementioned artists, Baxter was employed by Jimmy’s Music Shop in New York City where he modified guitars. And while recently being interviewed on 955KLOS by Matt Pinfield, he recalled one memorable day when a pre-fame Jimi Hendrix walked into the store (transcribed by Ultimate Guitar).

“He had a band called Jimmy James and the Blue Flames, and came into the store and had a guitar. A kind of beat-up old Fender Duo-Sonic, and he wanted to get something nicer. And I was repairing guitars and doing a bunch of guitar work.”

Then, a trade occurred that would ultimately get Baxter in hot water with his boss.

“I had just set up a right-handed guitar for left-handed players, and the guy never came in and bought it. So, I traded it even. Seemed like a nice guy. Frank Squillaci [his boss] got real mad, and he said, ‘I’m docking you three weeks’ pay for that because it’s not a great deal.'”

Then, Baxter received an invitation from Hendrix.

“He invited me to come down to the club and hang out, and then the bass player didn’t show up for one gig, so I was there.”

As a result, Baxter jammed on stage with Hendrix that night and, as a bonus, met another notable musician.

“Randy California was there in the band, and Randy and I became very close friends.” California would go on to co-form the rock group Spirit.

Shortly after the aforementioned jam session took place, Hendrix was “discovered” by The Animals’ bassist Chas Chandler, flown to England, and soon after, changed the course of rock guitar with the arrival of the “Are You Experienced” album in 1967.