Starting this month, the New York City block that has been home to Jimi Hendrix\u2018s famed Electric Lady Studios since 1970 will officially bear a new name: \u201cJimi Hendrix Way.\u201d<\/p>\n
The unveiling of the block\u2019s new sign, rescheduled from earlier this year, is due to take place on June 10th at the corner of 6th Avenue and West 8th Street in Greenwich Village\u2014just a block from the recording studio where generations worth of iconic recordings have been put on wax. The event will also serve as the public launch of a new national education partnership with TeachRock<\/a>, expanding the organization\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n The street co-naming initiative was enacted by NYC District 2 Council Member Harvey Epstein and spearheaded by Experience Hendrix, L.L.C., the Hendrix family-owned company run by Janie Hendrix, alongside guitarist and writer Jeff Slate.\u00a0Epstein, Hendrix, and Slate will be joined at the ceremony by TeachRock\u2019s famous founder,\u00a0Stevie Van Zandt (The E Street Band), as well as Grammy-winning guitarist Vernon Reid (Living Colour); lauded songwriter and performer Valerie Simpson; guitarist Felicia Collins (CBS Orchestra, World\u2019s Most Dangerous Band), 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Related: \u2018Jimi Hendrix In Maui\u2019 Doc & Live Album Showcases 1970 Concert From Infamous \u2018Rainbow Bridge\u2019 Film [Audio\/Video]<\/a><\/p>\n The initiative\u2019s collaboration with TeachRock includes a new multimedia Hendrix curriculum designed for middle school- and high school-aged students. Titled \u201cJimi Hendrix: Rock\u2019s Trailblazing Innovator and Influential Guitarist<\/a>,\u201d it invites students to explore Hendrix\u2019s journey from his blues and R&B roots through his revolutionary impact on rock music, sound design, and live performance. Through video, interactive tools, and hands-on projects, students will be invited to examine \u201chow Hendrix reshaped creative identity and why his influence continues to resonate more than 50 years later.\u201d<\/p>\n The lesson was co-developed with educator and musician John Anthony and features exclusive archival footage (like Jimi\u2019s famed\u00a0 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival performance) and expert interviews provided by Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. TeachRock also partnered with NYU\u2019s MusEdLab to create interactive tools that allow students to experiment with the guitar effects and sonic innovations that defined Hendrix\u2019s signature sound. The new lesson is now available as part of TeachRock\u2019s free curriculum library here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are proud to honor the legacy of Jimi Hendrix today,\u201d said Harvey Epstein. \u201cOur 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.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJimi Hendrix didn\u2019t just play guitar, he reimagined what art could be,\u201d added Stevie Van Zandt in a press release. \u201cWith 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.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis collaboration speaks directly to the heart of our mission, carrying Jimi\u2019s legacy forward through education,\u201d said Janie Hendrix. \u201cHis music remains a powerful gateway for young people to connect with history, creativity, and their own potential.\u201d<\/p>\n