New York City will co-name West Eighth Street in Greenwich Village as Jimi Hendrix Way to honor the late musician and his Electric Lady Studios. The ceremony is scheduled for February 24, 2026. The designation recognizes Hendrix's legacy in music and the studio's enduring impact.
The City of New York plans to affix a sign designating the stretch of West Eighth Street where Electric Lady Studios stands as Jimi Hendrix Way. The studio, which Hendrix opened in 1970, became a pivotal recording space shortly before his death. The co-naming ceremony will occur at 11 a.m. on February 24, 2026, at the corner of West Eighth Street and Sixth Avenue in Greenwich Village.
Speakers at the event include Janie Hendrix, the musician's sister and president and CEO of Experience Hendrix LLC; musician Stevie Van Zandt; and NYC District 2 Council Member Harvey Epstein. The initiative was led by Janie Hendrix, Van Zandt on behalf of his TeachRock nonprofit, and writer Jeff Slate. TeachRock is introducing a new educational lesson titled Jimi Hendrix: Rock’s Trailblazing Innovator and Influential Guitarist, which explores Hendrix's blues and R&B roots using archival footage from Experience Hendrix and expert interviews.
Janie Hendrix stated, “This collaboration speaks to the heart of our mission — carrying on Jimi’s legacy through education. His music is a powerful gateway for young minds to connect with history, creativity, and their own potential.” Stevie Van Zandt added, “Jimi Hendrix didn’t just play guitar — he reimagined what art could be. 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.”
In 1968, Hendrix and his manager Michael Jeffrey purchased the site of a former nightclub on West Eighth Street intending to create a concert venue. Recording engineer Eddie Kramer and studio manager Jim Marron persuaded them to develop it as a recording studio instead. Electric Lady Studios opened on August 26, 1970, with a party attended by Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Ron Wood, and Patti Smith. Hendrix died on September 18, 1970, after recording minimally there. Since then, the studio has hosted sessions by artists including the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Patti Smith, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift.