Patti Smith
Patti Smith, born in 1946, is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, often dubbed the "punk poet laureate." Smith's debut album, "Horses" (1975), is considered a landmark in the history of rock music, blending rock and poetry in ways that had not been done before. Her work is known for its merging of rock, poetry and visual arts, along with her influential style and political activism. Smith's contributions to music and literature were recognized when she was awarded the National Book Award for her memoir "Just Kids" (2010), detailing her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in the late 1960s and 1970s New York City art scene.