New York City To Co-Name West 8th Street 'Jimi Hendrix Way'

On February 24 at 11:00 AM EST, New York City will officially co-name West 8th Street Jimi Hendrix Way in honor of Jimi Hendrix, marking the storied block where his legendary Electric Lady Studios still stands as one of the most historic and continuously operating recording studios in the city. The street naming, 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, with guitarist and writer Jeff Slate, will serve as the public kickoff to a new national education partnership in collaboration with Stevie Van Zandt’s TeachRock. The partnership expands TeachRock’s 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, with a new, multimedia Hendrix curriculum 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., and a group of local TeachRock teachers and students, connecting one of rock music’s most hallowed creative landmarks to local classrooms and the national network of educators who will bring this curriculum into their schools.

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.

“I’m proud to honor the legacy of Jimi Hendrix today,” said Council Member Harvey Epstein. “Our district is a hub of culture, arts, and activism, and Jimi Hendrix embodies this. Not only was he a legendary musician, but he was also a fierce advocate for peace, racial equity and social justice. He revolutionized music just steps away from where we are today, 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,” agrees Stevie Van Zandt. “I want TeachRock to transport students into that same sense of possibility and discovery I felt the first time I saw Jimi perform. 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 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 to the heart of our mission — carrying on Jimi’s legacy through education,” said Janie Hendrix, President and CEO of Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. “His music is a powerful gateway for young minds to connect with history, creativity, and their own potential.”

In keeping with TeachRock’s commitment to make education accessible in all classrooms, the free lesson, which meets guidelines of  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.