American rock singer and songwriter born Patricia Mae Andrzejewski on January 10, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York. A classically trained mezzo-soprano, she broke into mainstream rock with her 1979 debut album In the Heat of the Night and the 1980 album Crimes of Passion, which featured her signature hit "Hit Me with Your Best Shot." She won the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance four consecutive years (1980-1983), a record at the time. Her career produced 10 platinum albums and eight number-one singles.
She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, alongside her husband and longtime musical collaborator Neil Giraldo. Her name appears in Epstein's black book. No allegations of wrongdoing have been made.