Jimi Hendrix Way Unveiled In NYC

Jimi Hendrix grew up in Seattle and broke through in London, but before and after finding fame, he made New York City's Greenwich Village his home base. That's where Hendrix set up Electric Lady, his personal recording studio, which remains a fixture of the neighborhood today. And as of today it's where you can walk down Jimi Hendrix Way.

This morning, NYC officially co-named West 8th Street in honor of Hendrix. In a ceremony led by NYC Council Member Harvey Epstein, a street sign was posted at the intersection of W 8th and 6th Ave., just down the block from the studio. The ceremony was originally scheduled for Feb. 24 but was postponed due to an intense snow storm.

Hendrix's sister Janie Hendrix, who leads Experience Hendrix LLC, says the family began petitioning to have the street named after Hendrix immediately after his death in 1970. “We used to have a petition in Electric Lady Studios to sign that said, ‘Name this street after Jimi,’ and it seemed to go nowhere," she said at the ceremony, per the New York Times. "We also tried to get Jimi’s face on a stamp, and that eventually happened, 12 years ago. All in due time."

Also present at the event were musicians Vernon Reid of Living Colour, Valerie Simpson, and Felicia Collins, as well as Eddie Kramer, who worked closely with Hendrix and helped to design Electric Lady. The ceremony doubled as the launch of a partnership with TeachRock, a nonprofit started by Stevie Van Zandt of the E Street Band. The Hendrix estate posted this message celebrating the big day:

It's official… This morning New York City officially and permanently co-named West 8th Street as Jimi Hendrix Way. ? The new street sign unveiled today at the corner of 6th Avenue and West 8th Street is just down the street from Jimi Hendrix's landmark Electric Lady Studios in the heart of Greenwich Village. Stay Experienced!