Godmother of Punk

Poet, singer, songwriter, activist.  Patricia Lee “Patti” Smith has had quite a jam-packed life.

Highly influential in the punk rock movement, Smith has been a performer and songwriter for nearly 40 years.  Acclaimed in her own right, she has also co-written with Bruce Springsteen, toured with Bob Dylan, co-wrote a play with Sam Shepard, had a love affair with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and married Fred “Sonic” Smith, a fellow musician.

She has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was named a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture, won the National Book Award for Nonfiction with her memoir, Just Kids, is now working on a crime novel, pursues photography and continues to perform and support causes in which she believes, some of them controversial.

I’ve never been much of a fan of punk rock.  But I admire any woman who can achieve what this one has.