Juma Sulta was one of the percussionists who played in Hendrix short-lived Gypsy Sun and Rainbows project that culminated with the appearance at the Woodstock Festival in August 1969. Juma Sultan was “probably the most schooled musician Jimi ever played with on any sort of regular basis.”1 

In grade school he played "piano, sousaphone and baritone saxophone, sang in a church quartet and took lessons from an African drummer.”  Juma said about himself, “I spent seven of my first twenty-one years in jail… I was always into something… I had a chip on my shoulder.” 1

He moved to New York in 1965, and played congas behind some impressive names- jazz saxophonists Sonny Rollins and Albert Ayler and singer/guitarist Ritchie Havens. Havens also appeared at Woodstock. 

1. Electric Gypsy, Harry Shapiro and Caesar Glebbeek.