Patti Smith

Patti Smith is an American punk poet and rock musician who created the hit Because the Night (1978). The song was co-written with Bruce Springsteen and reached #13 on Billboard Hot 100, becoming her biggest commercial success. Smith debuted with the album Horses (1975), which is considered one of the most influential punk albums. She combined rock music with spoken word poetry and literature references. Patti wrote autobiography Just Kids (2010) about her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, which won National Book Award. She was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. Her influence is felt in the work of Sonic Youth, PJ Harvey and Courtney Love.