Patti Smith

Patricia Lee 'Patti' Smith (born December 30, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, poet, painter, and author. She became an influential figure in the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album 'Horses'. Known as the 'punk poet laureate', Smith blended rock and poetry in her work. Her hit song 'Because the Night', co-written with Bruce Springsteen, reached the top 15 on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK Singles Chart. Smith was honored with the Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture in 2005 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. She won the National Book Award in 2010 for her memoir 'Just Kids' and is ranked 47th on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.