Theo Cateforis, associate professor in the Department of Art and Music Histories, discussed the influence of Patti Smith’s groundbreaking music in a Charleston City Paper article titled, "Smith’s 'Horses' album to celebrate 50th anniversary at Spoleto." Smith’s music was among the first to fuse spoken word with rhythmic elements, laying the groundwork for what would later evolve into punk music.

“It’s important to remember that in 1975, there was no consensus about what punk was. It took shape as a rebellious form,” Cateforis said in the article. “They were allowing people who weren’t traditionally part of the rock landscape into the fold. Patti Smith is a poet, and all of a sudden is crossing over very easily to be a musician.”