They say she invented punk, but Patti Smith is so much more. The incredibly talented performer was not only inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but was named a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture, and received the National Book award for her memoir “Just Kids”.

Her unique contribution to performance is a mixture of poetry and music, making her stand out as one of a kind. No one who has heard her can ever forget her boldness, clarity, and hard driving lines. Leaving religious structures behind while still a teenager because she felt the walls of religion too confining, she emphasized it in the line, “Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine.”

Her early years were spent among popular cult artists, who felt exclusiveness in knowing about her and listening to her work. That changed however, with her International hit, “Because of the Night.” Co-authored with performing artist, Bruce Springsteen, the song sky-rocketed, reaching number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978.

In January of 1977, Patti Smith accidentally fell off the stage, fifteen feet into a concrete based orchestra pit, breaking several neck vertebrae. The incident actually gave her time to evaluate and re-organize her life, coming back with several new songs, including “Because of the Night”, that received almost instant commercial success.

Her courage was not forgotten. In 2010, she received the Woman of Valor Award from ROCKRGRL Magazine at the ROCKRGRL Music Conference, marking the 30th Anniversary of the release of “Horses.”.

What’s incredible about the grandmother of punk is that she has never stopped creating. She is the subject of the documentary film, “Patti Smith: Dream of Life”, and is currently working on a crime novel. Nor has she quit making music. Her newest album, “Banga (Believe or Explode)” came out in June of this year. She is now on national tour with Neil Young and Crazy Horse, giving you a once in a life time opportunity to view in person one of the most controversial and talented singer and writer in today’s industry.