UPDATE: Punk icon Patti Smith has revealed a stunning family secret in her new memoir, Bread of Angels, published on November 4, 2023. On her 70th birthday, Smith discovered that she is half Jewish through her father, a revelation that has sent shockwaves through her personal narrative.
In a deeply emotional recounting, the legendary singer shared that she and her sister took a DNA test following their mother’s death eight years ago. The test revealed that their patrilineal ancestry is “100 percent Ashkenazi.” Smith reflects on the moment, saying, “We wept” upon seeing the results, which left her grappling with a new identity and feeling unable to write for some time.
Smith’s biological father, Sidney Smith, was a Jewish pilot from a family that fled Russia to settle in Philadelphia. The discovery was bittersweet; she expressed, “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit broken-hearted,” realizing that the man who raised her, Grant Smith, was not her biological father. “Grant will always be my father,” she affirmed, adding, “But now I have two fathers.”
The memoir details the emotional complexities of her newfound heritage. Smith acknowledges, “I don’t know a whole lot about my Jewish father, but everything I’ve found out about him, I recognize. I recognize myself in his face.” This revelation offered her insight into “the things about yourself that the rest of the family doesn’t have.”
Reflecting on her mother’s decision to keep this secret, Smith praised her, stating, “My mother knew that I favored my father, so she never said a word to make me feel that he wasn’t. She did her best to protect me.” The poignant moment in their relationship occurred in early autumn 2002, during their usual daily call. As they discussed Smith’s deepening voice, her mother hinted at a “story to tell” regarding “genetics.” Tragically, the next time Smith saw her mother was in a hospital following a serious fall, and she never regained the opportunity to learn more about her family history.
The memoir also touches on longstanding family rumors about her paternity, suggesting that her biological father might have been her mother’s uncle. However, this notion was never validated by her parents and was eventually dismissed.
With a career spanning decades, Smith is not only a punk legend but also a towering figure in music and poetry, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. Her groundbreaking 1975 debut album, Horses, is heralded as the first true punk rock album and continues to influence artists today.
As fans and followers react to this personal revelation, it underscores the ongoing narrative of identity and heritage in contemporary society. Smith’s story serves not only as a reflection on her life but also as a reminder of the complexities that many face regarding family history.
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