“jimi hendrix blue” by Abrohill is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Jimi Hendrix is receiving some love from his one-time Greenwich Village neighborhood. The guitarist whose legacy reflects the revolutionary rebirth of the electric instrument will be honored by the City of New York on Tuesday, Feb. 24, when West Eighth Street, near Electric Lady Studios, is renamed “Jimi Hendrix Way.” 

The location reflects Hendrix’s association with the famous recording spot, which he commissioned in 1968 and opened two years later, in 1970–even naming his third and final studio LP, Electric Ladyland, solidifying the spot’s pivotal role in the musician’s final chapter. In addition to providing a space for musical salvation for the guitarist, it has also hosted Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, and other luminaries in the arts. 

During the ceremony scheduled for later this month, speakers have been invited to discuss Hendrix’s high impact, including his sister, Janie; musician Stevie Van Zandt; and NYC District 2 Council Member Harvey Epstein. The latter is the acting president and CEO of Experience Hendrix LLC. He, along with Van Zandt [working on behalf of nonprofit TeachRock] and author Jeff Slate, pushed for renaming West Eighth Street.  

In tandem with the event, TeachRocks is launching a new educational session dubbed Jimi Hendrix: Rock’s Trailblazing Innovator and Influential Guitarist. “This collaboration speaks to the heart of our mission–carrying on Jimi’s legacy through education,” Janie said in a statement. “His music is a powerful gateway for young minds to connect with history, creativity, and their own potential.”

“Jimi Hendrix didn’t just play guitar–he reimagined what art could be,” Van Zandt adds. “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 recognition of the impending achievement and a life steeped in music, watch a clip of The Jimi Hendrix Experience performing “Purple Haze” live at the Atlanta Pop Festival.