Wild Horses

With the release of her revolutionary debut, Horses, Patti Smith solidified her place in the vibrant music scene of 1970s New York City. From then on, she has displayed talent in many roles; she's a soul sister to the singer, a friend to the author, a peer to the painter, a poet laureate to the punks, a sympathizer to the radical, a muse to modern musicians, and a goddess to her fans. At age 61, Smith is as prolific and inspirational as ever. In addition to being the subject of Steven Sebring's documentary, Dream of Life (which opens in San Francisco this week), she is still touring, bringing her unrivaled live show to town.