Punk Icon Patti Smith Reveals Her Jewish Heritage
Legendary American singer and punk icon Patti Smith has disclosed in her new memoir that she discovered she is half Jewish through her father. The revelation occurred on her 70th birthday when she learned her patrilineal ancestry is “100 per cent Ashkenazi.”
Discovery of Jewish Ancestry
In her memoir Bread of Angels, published on November 4, Smith shares that she and her sister took a DNA test after their mother’s death, uncovering their father's Jewish heritage. She wrote that the discovery deeply affected her, saying it “put a great strain on my thought process, and for some time I was unable to write.”
Family Background
- Her biological father, Sidney, was a Jewish pilot.
- Sidney’s family originated in Russia, fled to Ukraine, and later settled in Philadelphia.
- Grant Smith, who raised Patti, is not her biological father but remains her father in her heart.
“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit broken-hearted,” Smith admits about learning the truth. “Grant will always be my father. But now I have two fathers.”
Legacy in Punk and Culture
Known as the Godmother of Punk, Smith was a central figure in New York City’s countercultural scene during the 1970s, associating with artists like Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.
Author’s Summary
Patti Smith’s memoir reveals her unexpected Jewish heritage through her biological father, reshaping her identity and highlighting her complex family bonds.