On June 10 at 11 a.m., New York City will officially co-name West 8th Street Jimi Hendrix Way in honor of legendary guitarist and cultural icon Jimi Hendrix. The ceremony, rescheduled from Feb. 24th due to inclement weather, will take place at the south east corner of Sixth Avenue and West 8th Street in Greenwich Village, just a block from the historic Electric Lady Studios.
The street co-naming is led by NYC District 2 Council Member Harvey Epstein and spearheaded by Experience Hendrix, L.L.C., the Hendrix family-owned company led by Janie Hendrix, alongside musician and writer Jeff Slate. The event will also serve as the public launch of a new national education partnership with Stevie Van Zandt’s TeachRock, expanding its library of more than 500 free, standards-aligned lessons that use music and popular culture to teach history, social studies, language arts, and other core subjects. The collaboration includes a new multimedia Hendrix curriculum designed for middle and high school students.
Joining Council Member Epstein at the ceremony will be TeachRock founder Stevie Van Zandt; Janie Hendrix, President and CEO of Experience Hendrix, L.L.C.; Grammy Award-winning guitarist Vernon Reid of Living Colour; legendary songwriter and performer Valerie Simpson; guitarist Felicia Collins, best known for her work with the CBS Orchestra and the World’s Most Dangerous Band on Late Show with David Letterman; and acclaimed producer and engineer Eddie Kramer, who worked closely with Hendrix and helped conceptualize Electric Lady Studios.
Local TeachRock educators and students will also participate, connecting one of rock music’s most revered creative landmarks with classrooms in New York City and the growing national network of educators using TeachRock curriculum in schools across the country.
The new lesson, Jimi Hendrix: Rock’s Trailblazing Innovator and Influential Guitarist, invites students to explore Hendrix’s journey from his Blues and R&B roots to his revolutionary impact on rock music, sound design, and live performance. Through video, interactive tools, and hands-on projects, students examine how Hendrix reshaped creative identity and why his influence continues to resonate more than 50 years later.
“We are proud to honor the legacy of Jimi Hendrix today,” said Council Member Harvey Epstein. “Our district has long been a hub of culture, arts, and activism, and Jimi Hendrix embodied all of those ideals. He was not only a groundbreaking musician, but also a powerful voice for peace, racial equity, and social justice. He revolutionized music in this neighborhood, and it is only fitting that these streets now carry his name.”
“Jimi Hendrix didn’t just play guitar — he reimagined what art could be,” said Stevie Van Zandt. “With TeachRock, we want students to experience that same sense of possibility and discovery that so many of us felt the first time we heard Jimi. His story, lyrics, and sound remind young people that creativity has no limits.”
The lesson was co-developed with educator and musician John Anthony and features exclusive archival footage and expert interviews provided by Experience Hendrix, L.L.C., including Hendrix’s iconic 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival performance. TeachRock also partnered with NYU’s MusEdLab to create interactive tools that allow students to experiment with the guitar effects and sonic innovations that defined Hendrix’s signature sound.
“This collaboration speaks directly to the heart of our mission, carrying Jimi’s legacy forward through education,” said Janie Hendrix, President and CEO of Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. “His music remains a powerful gateway for young people to connect with history, creativity, and their own potential.”
In keeping with TeachRock’s commitment to accessible education, the free lesson, aligned with National Standards for Music Education, National Core Arts Standards, Social Studies standards, and Common Core State Standards, is available now at teachrock.org/lesson/jimi-hendrix-rocks-trailblazing-innovator-and-influential-guitarist/ as part of TeachRock’s free curriculum library.
Event Details:
What: Official West 8th Street Co-Naming Ceremony Honoring Jimi Hendrix
When: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 | 11:00 a.m.
Where: Corner of West 8th Street and Sixth Avenue, New York City
Who: Council Member Harvey Epstein, Stevie Van Zandt, Janie Hendrix, Vernon Reid, Valerie Simpson, Felicia Collins, local TeachRock educators and students