Patti Smith – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts

Patti Smith Biography

Patti Smith is a singer, songwriter, and artist who rose to prominence in the New York City punk music scene. She began performing spoken word after working on a factory assembly line and eventually created the Patti Smith Group (1974-79). Horses is her most well-known album. Her romance with Fred “Sonic” Smith interrupted her singing career, but she returned to music following his unexpected death and eventually received fame for a series of autobiographical novels.

Smith, known as the “punk poet laureate,” blended rock and poetry in her work. “Because the Night,” which she co-wrote with Bruce Springsteen, is her most well-known song. In 1978, it peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number five in the United Kingdom. Smith was appointed a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture in 2005. She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

Smith received the National Book Award for her memoir Just Kids on November 17, 2010. The book fulfilled a promise she made to her ex-husband, Robert Mapplethorpe. She was ranked 47th on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Artists in December 2010, and she received the 2011 Polar Music Prize.

Patricia Lee Smith was her given name at the time. She was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 30, 1946. Smith was confused about her gender as a child. She was described as a tomboy since she avoided “girly” activities and favoured roughhousing with her mostly male companions. Her tall, slim, and slightly masculine body contrasted the feminine stereotypes she observed around her. She didn’t come to grips with her own figure until a high school art instructor showed her paintings of women by some of the world’s greatest artists.

“Art totally freed me,” Smith recalled. “I found Modigliani, I discovered Picasso’s blue period, and I thought, ‘Look at this, these are great masters, and the women are all built like I am.’ I started ripping pictures out of the books and taking them home to pose in front of the mirror.”

Smith devoted herself to writing for the following many years. Seventh Heaven, her debut book of poetry, was published in 1972 and received positive reviews but sold few copies. Early Morning Dream (1972) and Witt (1973) were both critically acclaimed anthologies. Smith also published music journalism for magazines such as Creem and Rolling Stone at the same time.

Patti Smith started performing rock music by 1974, first with guitarist, bassist, and rock archivist Lenny Kaye, and subsequently with a complete band that included Kaye, Ivan Kral on guitar and bass, Jay Dee Daugherty on drums, and Richard Sohl on piano.

Smith spent the most of the 1980s in semi-retirement from music, living with her family in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, north of Detroit. She released the album Dream of Life in June 1988, which includes the song “People Have the Power.” Fred Smith died of a heart attack on November 4, 1994. Patti was soon confronted with the untimely loss of her brother Todd.

Smith collaborated with her long-time collaborators to record Gone Again, which included “About a Boy,” a memorial to Kurt Cobain. That same year, she co-wrote “E-Bow the Letter,” a song on R.E.M.‘s New Adventures in Hi-Fi, which she has also performed live with the band. Patti Smith released two new albums following the publication of Gone Again: Peace and Noise in 1997 (featuring the hit “1959,” about the invasion of Tibet), and Gung Ho in 2000 (with songs about Ho Chi Minh and Smith’s late father). The songs “1959” and “Glitter in Their Eyes” received Grammy nominations for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. The Patti Smith Masters, a box set containing her work up to that point, was released in 1996, and Land (1975-2002), a two-CD compilation that included a cover of Prince‘s “When Doves Cry,” was released in 2002.

Patti Smith Discography

TwelveSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Trampin’SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Gung HoSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Peace and NoiseAppleYouTubeAmazon
Gone AgainSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Dream of LifeSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
WaveSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
EasterSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Radio EthiopiaSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
HorsesSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon

Top Videos

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Patti Smith’S Most Famous Song?

Patti Smith’s most famous song is “Because the Night.” The song was co-written with Bruce Springsteen and was originally released as a single in 1978. It has since been covered by many other artists, including Cyndi Lauper and 10,000 Maniacs.

What Is Patti Smith Famous For?

Patti Smith is a famous singer and songwriter who was a part of the punk rock movement in the 1970s. She is known for her influential music and her poetic lyrics. Patti Smith was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

What Year Did Patti Smith Because The Night Come Out?

The song “Because the Night” was released in 1978 on Patti Smith’s album Easter.

How Many Albums Does Patti Smith Have?

Patti Smith has released eleven studio albums, four live albums, seven compilations, and five box sets. Her debut album, Horses, was released in 1975 and is considered one of the greatest albums of all time. She has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Smithsonian Institution.

What Was Patti Smith’S First Album?

Patti Smith’s first album was “Horses.” It was released in 1975 and is considered one of the most influential punk rock albums of all time. Smith has said that the album was influenced by a wide range of artists, including the Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones.

Most Searched For Patti Smith Songs

Because the Night SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Free Money SpotifyAppleAmazon
Dancing Barefoot SpotifyAppleYouTube
Frederick SpotifyAmazon
Gloria: In Excelsis Deo SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Smells Like Teen Spirit – Radio Edit Spotify
People Have the Power SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Rock n Roll N****r Spotify
Pastime Paradise SpotifyAppleYouTube
When Doves Cry SpotifyAppleAmazon