History of Pat Benatar in Timeline

Patricia Mae Giraldo, known professionally as Pat Benatar, is a highly successful American singer and songwriter. With a career spanning decades, she has achieved multi-platinum and platinum album sales in both the United States and Canada, along with numerous chart-topping singles. Her contributions to the music industry have earned her four Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

1926: Birth of Pat Benatar's Father

Pat Benatar's father, Andrew Andrzejewski, was born in 1926.

1928: Birth of Pat Benatar's Mother

Pat Benatar's mother, Mildred, was born in 1928.

January 10, 1953: Birth of Pat Benatar

Pat Benatar was born Patricia Mae Andrzejewski on January 10, 1953, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York City.

1972: First Marriage

At the age of 19, Pat Benatar married Dennis Benatar in 1972.

1973: Dennis Benatar Stationed in Virginia

In 1973, after training and serving elsewhere, Pat Benatar's husband Dennis was stationed at Fort Lee, Virginia.

1974: Release of "Day Gig"

Pat Benatar released her first single, "Day Gig", in 1974.

May 1975: Move to New York

Pat and Dennis Benatar moved to New York in May 1975 to pursue her singing career.

1976: The Zinger

In 1976, Pat Benatar landed the part of Zephyr in Harry Chapin's futuristic rock musical, The Zinger. The musical ran for a month at the Performing Arts Foundation's (PAF) Playhouse in Huntington Station, Long Island.

1977: Halloween Costume at Cafe Figaro

On Halloween 1977, Pat Benatar dressed as a character from the film Cat-Women of the Moon for a costume contest at Cafe Figaro in Greenwich Village. She then went on stage at Catch a Rising Star, still in costume. This event is considered pivotal in the development of her early stage persona.

1978: Signing with Chrysalis Records

In the spring of 1978, Pat Benatar headlined at New York City's Tramps nightclub, where her performance was seen by representatives of several record companies. The following week, she was signed to Chrysalis Records.

August 1979: Release of "In the Heat of the Night"

Pat Benatar's debut album, In the Heat of the Night, was released in August 1979.

September 14, 1979: "If You Think You Know How to Love Me" Release

On September 14, 1979, Pat Benatar released her debut single, "If You Think You Know How to Love Me", which unfortunately did not achieve commercial success.

October 26, 1979: "Heartbreaker" Release and Breakthrough

Pat Benatar's second single, "Heartbreaker", was released on October 26, 1979. It became a sleeper hit, reaching number 23 in the US and gaining recognition as one of the greatest hard rock songs.

1979: Debut Album Release - In the Heat of the Night

Pat Benatar's debut album, In the Heat of the Night, was released in 1979. This marked her breakthrough in North America, especially in Canada where it reached No. 3 on the album chart.

1979: Divorce from Dennis Benatar

Pat Benatar's first marriage ended in divorce in 1979.

February 1980: "We Live for Love" Release

In February 1980, Pat Benatar released "We Live for Love", a single written by her future husband, Neil Giraldo. This marked her first top 10 hit in Canada, reaching number 8.

March 1980: "In the Heat of the Night" Charts on Billboard 200

In March 1980, Pat Benatar's debut album, In the Heat of the Night, peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard 200 album chart.

August 1980: Crimes of Passion Release

August 1980 saw the release of Pat Benatar's second album, "Crimes of Passion", featuring iconic tracks like "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" and the controversial "Hell Is for Children".

October 1980: Rolling Stone Cover and Continued Success

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine in October 1980, solidifying her rising fame. Her album "Crimes of Passion" achieved platinum status, marking a significant milestone in her career.

December 1980: "In the Heat of the Night" Certified Platinum

In December 1980, Pat Benatar's debut album, In the Heat of the Night, was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

1980: Crimes of Passion Released

Pat Benatar released her second and most successful album, Crimes of Passion, in 1980.

January 1981: Grammy Win and Chart Success

By January 1981, "Crimes of Passion" topped the charts for five weeks and earned Pat Benatar her first Grammy Award for 'Best Female Rock Vocal Performance'.

July 1981: Precious Time and Chart-Topping Success

In July 1981, Pat Benatar released her third studio album, "Precious Time", which reached number one on the Billboard 200, marking a significant achievement in her career.

1981: Precious Time Released

In 1981, Pat Benatar released her third album, Precious Time, which topped the US Album Chart and became her first top 10 album in Australia.

February 20, 1982: Marriage to Neil Giraldo in Hawaii

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo were married on February 20, 1982, in a ceremony conducted by Rev. Henry Kahula of the Wainanalua Church in Hana, Hawaii.

1982: Get Nervous World Tour

Pat Benatar embarked on her sold-out "Get Nervous" world tour in 1982, captivating audiences across America and Europe with her powerful performances.

1982: Marriage to Neil Giraldo

Pat Benatar married her second husband, guitarist Neil Giraldo, in 1982.

1982: Get Nervous and MTV Influence

Pat Benatar released her album "Get Nervous" in 1982. The album's hit single, "Shadows of the Night", gained significant traction due to its popular MTV music video.

December 1983: "Love Is a Battlefield" Release and Genre Shift

December 1983 saw the release of "Love Is a Battlefield", Pat Benatar's most significant hit. This marked a shift towards a more pop-oriented sound, influenced by MTV trends.

1983: Live from Earth Release

In 1983, Pat Benatar released the live album "Live from Earth", featuring recordings from her successful "Get Nervous" tour. The album included the hit single "Love Is a Battlefield".

1983: Release of "Love Is a Battlefield"

In 1983, Pat Benatar released the single "Love Is a Battlefield". The song became one of her biggest hits internationally.

October 1984: Tropico Release and Experimentation

"Tropico", Pat Benatar's fifth studio album, was released in October 1984. The album represented a departure from her hard rock roots as she explored softer, more experimental sounds.

1984: Tropico Released

Pat Benatar released her album Tropico in 1984.

1985: "Love Is a Battlefield" Re-release and Chart Success

In 1985, Pat Benatar's song "Love Is a Battlefield" was re-released in the UK and became her highest-charting hit there, reaching number 17.

1985: Release of "Seven the Hard Way" Album and Success of "Invincible"

Pat Benatar released her sixth studio album, "Seven the Hard Way," in 1985, which featured the hit single "Invincible" from the movie "The Legend of Billie Jean."

1985: Release of Seven the Hard Way

Pat Benatar's album, Seven the Hard Way, was released in 1985.

January 1986: Chart Performance of "Sex As a Weapon"

In January 1986, Pat Benatar's single "Sex As a Weapon" reached number 28 on the US Hot 100 and number 5 on the US Rock Tracks chart.

1986: "We Belong" Grammy Nomination

Pat Benatar received her first Grammy nomination in the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance category for her song "We Belong" in 1986.

July 1988: Release of "Wide Awake in Dreamland" Album

Pat Benatar released her seventh studio album, "Wide Awake in Dreamland," in July 1988, which achieved commercial success and featured the Grammy-nominated single "All Fired Up."

1988: Release of Wide Awake in Dreamland

Pat Benatar released her album Wide Awake in Dreamland in 1988.

April 1991: Release of "True Love" Album

In April 1991, Pat Benatar released "True Love," a jump blues album featuring the blues band Roomful of Blues, which achieved gold certification in Canada.

1991: Start of Later Album Releases

Beginning in 1991, Pat Benatar released four additional albums, the last one being in 2003.

1993: Release of "Gravity's Rainbow" Album and Success of "Everybody Lay Down"

Pat Benatar's 1993 album "Gravity's Rainbow" marked a return to the AOR genre, with the single "Everybody Lay Down" reaching number 3 on the Rock Tracks chart.

1997: Release of "Innamorata" Album

Pat Benatar released her album "Innamorata" in 1997, featuring the single "Strawberry Wine (Life is Sweet)" which had a music video produced for it.

2003: Release of "Go" Album

Pat Benatar released her album "Go" in 2003, which included the 9/11 charity single "Christmas in America" as a bonus track.

2003: End of Later Album Releases

Pat Benatar released her last of four additional albums in 2003, after beginning in 1991.

2005: Daughters' Appearance on "Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive"

Pat Benatar's daughters, Haley and Hana Giraldo, appeared on the E! reality television series "Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive" in late 2005.

2009: Death of Pat Benatar's Father

Pat Benatar's father, Andrew Andrzejewski, passed away in 2009.

June 2010: Release of Memoir "Between a Heart and a Rock Place"

Pat Benatar's memoir, titled "Between a Heart and a Rock Place," was published by HarperCollins in June 2010 and became a New York Times bestseller.

2011: Announcement of Christmas Album and Novel

In 2011, Pat Benatar shared her plans to work on a Christmas album and write a novel about the second coming of Christ.

2012: "Have It All" Video Leaked

A music video produced for the single "Have It All" from the album "Go" was never officially released but was leaked on YouTube in 2012.

November 2015: Release of "One December Night"

In November 2015, Pat Benatar released "One December Night," a holiday song.

2016: Death of Pat Benatar's Mother

Pat Benatar's mother, Mildred, passed away in 2016.

January 2017: Release of "Shine"

Pat Benatar released "Shine" in January 2017, her first original non-holiday recording in over 10 years, to support the Women's March on January 21, 2017.

January 21, 2017: Women's March

Pat Benatar's song "Shine" was released in support of the Women's March that took place on January 21, 2017.

October 2017: "Dancing Through the Wreckage" Chart Entry

Pat Benatar's song "Dancing Through the Wreckage" entered the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart in October 2017.

2020: First Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nomination

Pat Benatar was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020 but was not among the inductees.

May 4, 2022: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Pat Benatar was announced as an inductee into the 2022 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on May 4, 2022.

July 22, 2022: Retirement of "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" from Performances

On July 22, 2022, Pat Benatar announced that she would no longer perform her hit song "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" during her tour out of respect for victims of mass shootings.