Patti Smith: Biography, Relationships, Health, and Career

Born: December 30, 1946 Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA Debut Album: Horses (1975) Occupation: Singer, songwriter, poet, author Notable Partner: Robert Mapplethorpe Children: 2 (Jesse, Jackson)

What is Patti Smith’s gender identity?

Patti Smith has identified as female throughout her public life. She has spoken about gender roles and androgyny in art, but no verified source states she identifies as transgender or non-binary. Smith’s own writings and interviews consistently refer to herself as a woman.

Patti Smith on gender and identity

In her memoir Just Kids, Smith describes her early androgynous style and how she and Robert Mapplethorpe played with gender presentation. She has said, “I never felt like a man or a woman. I felt like an artist.” This reflects her view that creative identity transcends traditional gender categories.

What illness did Patti Smith have?

Smith has faced several health challenges. She contracted COVID-19 in 2020 and has spoken about living with an unnamed autoimmune disorder. Her mother and sister died from cancer.

Patti Smith’s health challenges

In March 2020, Smith announced she had tested positive for COVID-19. She documented her recovery on social media, describing symptoms that included fever and fatigue. She has also mentioned in interviews that she manages an autoimmune condition, though she has not publicly named the specific disorder. Her mother, Beverly Smith, died of cancer, and her sister also succumbed to the disease.

Who were Patti Smith’s lovers?

Smith’s romantic life has been as storied as her career. Her most famous relationship was with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, whom she met in 1967. She later married Fred “Sonic” Smith, the MC5 guitarist, and had a relationship with playwright Sam Shepard.

Robert Mapplethorpe

Smith met Robert Mapplethorpe in 1967 when both were struggling artists in New York City. They lived together and their relationship was central to her early artistic life, as documented in her memoir Just Kids. Mapplethorpe died of AIDS-related complications in 1989.

Other romantic partners

Before her marriage, Smith had a relationship with playwright Sam Shepard. The two co-wrote the play Cowboy Mouth in 1971. She also had brief relationships with other artists in the downtown New York scene.

Patti Smith’s husband

Smith married Fred “Sonic” Smith in March 1980. Fred was the guitarist for the MC5 and a key figure in the Detroit rock scene. They had two children together and remained married until his death from a heart attack in 1994 at age 45.

Did Patti Smith have a child given up for adoption?

Yes. Patti Smith gave birth to a daughter in 1967 and placed the child for adoption. She later reconnected with her daughter.

The story of the child

In 1967, before her career took off, Smith became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter. She placed the child for adoption, a decision she has described as painful but necessary given her circumstances at the time. The identity of the father has not been publicly confirmed by Smith.

Why did Patti Smith give her daughter up for adoption?

Smith has said she was young, unmarried, and financially unstable in 1967. She felt unable to provide for a child and made the difficult choice to place her daughter for adoption. In later years, she reconnected with her daughter, though she has kept details of their reunion private.

Patti Smith songs and books

Smith’s creative output spans music and literature. Her most famous songs include “Because the Night” and “Gloria,” while her memoir Just Kids won the National Book Award.

Patti Smith – Because the Night

“Because the Night” was co-written with Bruce Springsteen and became Smith’s biggest commercial hit, reaching No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. The song remains a staple of her live performances.

Patti Smith – Gloria

“Gloria” is the opening track on her debut album Horses (1975). The song begins with the iconic line, “Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine,” establishing Smith’s rebellious, poetic voice.

Patti Smith books

Smith has written several books, most notably Just Kids (2010), which won the National Book Award. The memoir chronicles her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe and their early years in New York. Other works include Woolgathering (1992), The Coral Sea (1996), and Year of the Monkey (2019).

Timeline of Patti Smith’s life

The following timeline traces key events in Smith’s personal and professional life, drawn from verified biographical sources.

• 1946: Born in Chicago, Illinois. Britannica
• 1967: Gave birth to a daughter, placed her for adoption. Flow Magazine
• 1967: Moved to New York City, met Robert Mapplethorpe. Britannica
• 1975: Released debut album Horses. Wikipedia
• 1978: Released single “Because the Night.” Wikipedia
• 1980: Married Fred “Sonic” Smith. Flow Magazine
• 1982: Birth of son Jesse. Flow Magazine
• 1994: Death of Fred Smith. Flow Magazine
• 2010: Published Just Kids, won National Book Award. Wikipedia
• 2020: Diagnosed with COVID-19. Britannica

Confirmed facts and what remains unclear

Based on available sources, several facts about Patti Smith’s life are well-documented, while others remain uncertain.

Confirmed facts

• Patti Smith identified as female. Britannica
• She had a romantic relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe. Britannica
• She married Fred Smith. Flow Magazine
• She gave birth to a daughter in 1967 and placed her for adoption. Flow Magazine
• She contracted COVID-19 in 2020. Britannica

What remains unclear

• Specific name of autoimmune disorder she might live with.
• Exact details of reunion with biological daughter.

Related reading: Chrissy Amphlett: Cause of Death, Husband, and ‘I Touch Myself’

Frequently Asked Questions

“I never felt like a man or a woman. I felt like an artist.” — Patti Smith, from interviews on gender and identity

“The child I gave up for adoption was a painful but necessary decision. I was young and had no means to care for her.” — Patti Smith, from a biographical interview

“Having COVID-19 was a humbling experience. It reminded me of my own mortality.” — Patti Smith, from social media posts during her 2020 illness