Over the next few weeks, Soundcheck is looking for our first Musician In Chief, in which special guests nominate musicians and make a case for why that artist should become commander in chief. Yesterday, Billboard's Joe Levy nominated Keith Richards. Today, we turn to KCRW DJ Anne Litt for her pick, Patti Smith.

START THE CONVERSATION: Who do you think should become the first "Musician In Chief"? Fill out THIS questionnaire into our comments section, or email your response to soundcheck@wnyc.org 

This summer, poet, author and songwriter Patti Smith released her first album of new material since 2004, Banga. The record takes its name from Russian novelist Mikhail Bulgakov's book The Master And Margarita, and it's a collection of 12 songs that brim with literary, religious, historical and musical references.

The "godmother of punk" started out in 1970s New York. But in "Dream of Life," a POV documentary that aired on PBS and that's up for an Emmy this weekend, Patti Smith shows sides of herself that the public rarely gets to see. Smith tells Kurt ...

Our extended cut of Kurt's conversation with Patti Smith, including three things you didn’t know about the rock legend: 1) mother turned her on to poetry; 2) writes detective stories; 3) enthusiastic golfer.

Patti Smith spoke with Jonathan Lethem about writing, CBGB, and New York nostalgia for the PEN World Voice Festival. Listen to their conversation and Smith's song about William Blake.

Patti Smith is addicted to the music of Glenn Gould. She shared this, and more, after appearing on The Leonard Lopate Show.

Our extended cut of Kurt's conversation with Patti Smith, including three things you didn’t know about the rock legend: 1) mother turned her on to poetry; 2) writes detective stories; 3) enthusiastic golfer.

The "godmother of punk" started out in 1970s New York. But in "Dream of Life," a new POV documentary airing on PBS, Patti Smith shows sides of herself that the public rarely gets to see. Smith tells Kurt that it's also an account of ...