Musicians and actors, including Bruce Springsteen, Michael Stipe and Scarlett Johansson, took the stage in tribute.

Springsteen performed "Because the Night" with Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tony Shanahan, and Steve Jordan from the Rolling Stones.

Appropriately enough, Wednesday night's benefit tribute concert at New York's Carnegie Hall in honor of pioneering musician, author and icon Patti Smith began with a poem. Not just any poem: It was the first one she set to music,