Lenny Kaye is an American guitarist, songwriter, producer, and journalist. He accompanied Patti Smith at her spoken-word performance at St. Mark's Church, marking their first collaboration. In 1973, they formed the Patti Smith Group. As the group's guitarist, he contributed to several albums, including Smith's 1975 debut Horses. He also collaborated with Paul McCartney and Allen Ginsberg on The Ballad of the Skeletons.