Lou Reed

American musician, songwriter, poet, and photographer
Born March 2, 1942, Brooklyn, New York - Died October 27, 2013, Southampton, New York

Reed's music career began in 1958, when he recorded with his high school band, . During his time at Syracuse University in the early 1960's he formed a series of bands, but was most deeply impacted by his professor, American poet and writer Delmore Schwartz. Following college, he became a stock songwriter/musician for , and then in 1964, with John Cale, formed .

In 1970, he left the Velvet Underground during the recording of Loaded. He signed a contract with RCA Records in 1971 and continued to perform until shortly before his death. He was married to Bettye Kronstad (ca. 1973-1974), (1980–1994), and Laurie Anderson (2008–2013).