Jimi Hendrix in 1967. Photo: Wikipedia.

Shep Gordon had an influential ally during his rise to the top of the music industry: Jimi Hendrix. Upon meeting the rock legend in the 1960s, Hendrix asked Gordon, “Are you Jewish?” Gordon replied in the affirmative and Hendrix offered, “You should be a manager.” The two then collaborated on a name for the new management company, settling on Alive,  The New York Post reports.

The story is retold in Mike Myers’ directorial debut, “Supermensch,” which explores Gordon’s life.

The two met after Gordon got into an altercation with rock icon Janis Joplin after arriving in Los Angeles in the 1960s. Joplin later apologized and introduced him to her pal Hendrix. The rest is history.

Gordon went on to manage Joplin, Hendrix, Pink Floyd, and Alice Cooper, among others, before retiring to Hawaii to concentrate on culinary arts and adopt four orphaned children.