Patricia Lee “Patti” Smith (born December 30, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses.

Called the “Godmother of Punk”, her work was a fusion of rock and poetry. Smith’s most widely known song is “Because the Night”, which was co-written with Bruce Springsteen and reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978. In 2005, Patti Smith was named a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture, and in 2007, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On November 17, 2010, she won the National Book Award for her memoir Just Kids. She is also a recipient of the 2011 Polar Music Prize. (Wikipedia)

Patti Smith has been a part of my musical life since 1979. I have followed her since, but i first got to see her in concert this year at Bergenfest, it was great. She was so warm and looked so calm and confident. She gave us a wonderful show with a very good band. She played highlights from her long career including this years album, Banga.

Happy birthday, Patti!

My top 5 Patti Smith albums:

1. Easter (1978)
2. Horses (1975)
3. Wave (1979)
4. Gone Again (1996)
5. Radio Ethiopia (1976)

This day’s chosen album must be Easter:

 

More Patti Smith on JV 

 

– Hallgeir (I also took the pictures)

Other 30 Dec. :

• Robert Michael Nesmith (born December 30, 1942) is an American musician, songwriter, actor, producer, novelist, businessman, and philanthropist, best known as a member of the musical group The Monkees and star of the TV series of the same name. Nesmith is notable as a songwriter, including “Different Drum” sung by Linda Ronstadt with the Stone Poneys, and as executive producer of the cult film Repo Man. In 1981, Nesmith won the first Grammy Award given for Video of the Year for his hour-long Elephant Parts.

• Del Shannon (December 30, 1934 – February 8, 1990) was an American rock and roll singer-songwriter who had a No. 1 hit, “Runaway“, in 1961.

• Bo Didley aka Ellas Otha Bates (December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), was an American rhythm and blues vocalist,guitarist, songwriter (usually as Ellas McDaniel), and inventor.He was also known as “The Originator” because of his key role in the transition from the blues to rock & roll, influencing a host of acts including Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, The Velvet Underground, The Who, The Clash, The Yardbirds, and Eric Clapton.