Pat Benatar at Mountain Winery

In 2022, rock and roll songstress Pat Benatar and her longtime collaborator, music producer, guitarist, and husband Neil Giraldo were finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The couple was inducted into the Rock Hall by country superstar Sheryl Crow. During the introduction speech, Crow described Benatar’s singing prowess and her influence on the rock industry. “How that voice came from her tiny frame was remarkable.” Crow also added that the duo’s music is “simply impossible to replicate.” Crow then continued to call Benatar a feminist icon. During their acceptance speech, Giraldo mentioned that all he wanted was a vocalist, but he got an “exceptional singer.”

Since meeting in a rehearsal studio in New York in 1979, Benatar and Giraldo have been making exemplary music together. The Rock Hall referred to them as one of the “most formidable power couples in rock history.” With hits like “Heartbreaker,” “Hit Me With You Best Shot,” and “Love is a Battlefield,” the statement is not an exaggeration at all. Their musical partnership eventually blossomed into love. During an interview with Billboard, Giraldo described their journey, “From day one, Patricia and I really did this together. I was in the studio every single second. I know where every single note is buried. The greatness of Patricia is she was so extremely secure that when we met, she just wanted to sing, and she was looking for a partner to kind of do the rest, which I loved. I was happy just to do everything I could to write and produce great records. It was a match made in heaven."

Benatar’s amazing voice has been a staple among rock music lovers during the late ‘70s and ‘80s. In 1979, she dropped her debut album, In the Heat of the Night, which peaked at number 12 on the Billboard 200 and entered the charts in five other countries. The platinum-selling record spawned the breakout hit “Heartbreaker,” which reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.

After a stellar debut, Benatar, with the help of Giraldo and other music producers and songwriters, released ten more studio albums, including the four-time platinum record Crimes of Passion. The career-defining work contains the number 9 Hot 100 single, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” along with “You Better Run” and “Treat Me Right.” Her performance in the album won Benatar her first Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. After her first big win, Benatar won three more Grammy Awards and three American Music Awards.

If you want to experience Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo’s fantastic live performance, you better click on the “Get Tickets” link and score yourself some tickets before it’s too late!