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Patti Smith / Biography

Born in Chicago and raised in South Jersey, poet/singer/songwriter Patti Smith moved to New York City and gained recognition as one of the first visionary artists of the 1970’ s - known for the mergence of poetry and rock. She and her band released 8 studio albums on Arista Records 1975-2002. In 2002, Land, a compilation package of Horses, Radio Ethiopia, Easter, Wave, Dream of Life, Gone Again, Peace and Noise, and Gung Ho featured album cuts, as well as rare studio and live recordings. April 2004 marked the release of Patti Smith and her band’ s first Columbia recording Trampin’ , critically acclaimed for its diversity, with subjects ranging from motherhood to the preemptive strike on Iraq. In Spring 2007 a CD of cover songs, Twelve, was released, which was acclaimed as one of the best albums of the year.

In September 2002, the Andy Warhol Museum launched Strange Messenger, an exhibit containing drawings, silkscreens, and photographs from 1967-2002. This exhibit had traveled throughout The United States, Europe, and Japan. A solo exhibit of drawings and photographs will be launched in March 2008 at the Fondation Cartier Pour L’ Art Contemporain in Paris.

Patti Smith was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame in 2007. In 2005 she was awarded the prestigious title of ‘Commandeur of Arts & Letters’ by the French Ministry of Culture. In 2010 Patti Smith was honored by ASCAP with the Founders Award, representing lifetime achievement. She was awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Rowan University and Pratt Institute.

Patti Smith published a volume of poems entitled Auguries of Innocence published by Ecco Press. Previously published books include Babel, Early Work, The Coral Sea, and Complete. A memoir of her early days in New York, meeting and pursing art with her friend Robert Mapplethorpe, Just Kids, published in early 2010 by Harper Collins, received the National Book Award.

In 2011, Patti Smith and her band will be recording and Patti will continue performing, writing, creating art, and pursuing human rights issues.