Patty Smyth, a sultry-voiced singer/songwriter, was born on June 26, 1957, in New York City. Her Irish descent is a testament to her heritage. Her mother, a show business enthusiast, had a multifaceted career, working as a trapeze artist and serving as the manager for the legendary rock'n'roll guitarist Link Wray. Moreover, she owned and/or ran several prominent nightclubs in Greenwich Village.
Patty's early musical endeavors began at the tender age of fifteen, when she performed her first stage music gig at New York's Folk City. She continued to hone her craft by playing musical sets at the club Catch A Rising Star. Prior to landing her breakthrough gig as the lead singer of the rock band Scandal in 1981, Patty supported herself by working as a waitress in a steak house.
Scandal released their self-titled debut EP in 1982, which spawned moderately successful hit songs such as "Goodbye to You," "Love's Got a Line on You," and "Hands Tied." This was followed by the full-length album "The Warrior" in 1984, which included the rousing titular tracks that soared to #7 on the Billboard pop charts and sold over a million copies.
After Scandal disbanded in the mid-80s, Patty embarked on a solo career. Her first solo album "Never Enough" was released in 1987. Her self-titled second album came out in 1992 and went gold that same year. A poignant duet with Don Henley, "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough," peaked at #2 on the Billboard pop charts.
Patty's talents extended beyond her music, as she co-wrote and sang the song "Look What Love Has Done" for the comedy "Junior," which was nominated for Grammy, Golden Globe, and Academy Awards. She went on to co-write and sing the song "Wish I Were You" for the soundtrack of the blockbuster movie "Armageddon."
In 2004, Scandal reformed, and the group subsequently embarked on a small reunion tour in 2005. Patty's personal life is just as remarkable, having been married to punk rock icon Richard Hell and actor John McEnroe since 1997. She is the mother of three children.
