Lou Reed

Rock Singer

Lewis Allan Reed was an American musician, songwriter, and poet. He was the guitarist, singer, and principal songwriter for the rock band the Velvet Underground and had a solo career that spanned five decades.

Full Name

Birthday

Mar 2, 1942

deathday

Oct 27, 2013

AGE

BORN

United States

BIrth SIGN

Pisces

RElationship

Height

5′ 10″

Net Worth

About

Lou Reed was born on March 2, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York. His zodiac sign is Pisces and his ethnicity is Jewish-American. He was the son of Toby and Sidney Reed and the older brother of Merrill Reed. His father owned a clothing store and his mother was a housewife.

Reed took an interest in music at a young age, joining several bands while attending Syracuse University. He dropped out before graduating to pursue his musical career full-time. In 1964, he joined the band The Velvet Underground as a guitarist and vocalist, which gained him widespread recognition in the New York music scene. The group released its debut album "The Velvet Underground & Nico" in 1967, which was praised by critics but not commercially successful at first.

In 1972, Reed left The Velvet Underground and embarked on a solo career. He released several albums throughout the 1970s that showcased his experimental sound with unconventional instrumentation, including synthesizers and electric violins. He also collaborated with other iconic figures such as David Bowie and Iggy Pop throughout this time period. His album Transformer (1972) was especially popular and featured hits like "Walk on the Wild Side".

In 1983, Reed released one of his most successful albums titled New Sensations which peaked at number seven on Billboard’s Hot 100 list and featured hit songs like “I Love You Suzanne” and “Dirty Blvd”. During this time he also began to gain popularity in Europe as well due to the success of his live shows there. Throughout the rest of his career he continued to release critically acclaimed albums until his death in 2013 due to liver failure caused by alcohol abuse.

Life Timeline

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1942</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Lou Reed is Born</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">On March 2, 1942, Lou Reed was born in Brooklyn, New York.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1959</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Forms First Band, The Jades</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Forms his first band, The Jades, while still a student at Syracuse University.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1965</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Joins The Velvet Underground</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Joins the legendary band The Velvet Underground as lead singer and songwriter.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1972</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Solo Career Begins with Transformer</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Begins his solo career with the release of his critically acclaimed album Transformer.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1986</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame along with the rest of The Velvet Underground.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1998</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Receives Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Receives a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his musical achievements.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2013</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Dies from Liver Disease</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Lou Reed passes away from liver disease at the age of 71.</p></div>

Why We Love Them

<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">A.</span> He was Innovative</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Lou Reed was an innovative musician who pushed the boundaries of what rock music could be. His unique style, which blended elements of folk, punk, and jazz, created a sound that had never been heard before. He was also well respected as a songwriter and lyricist.</p></div>

<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">B.</span> He was Influential</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Lou Reed's influence on modern rock music is undeniable. His songs have been covered by countless artists, from David Bowie to Metallica. His influence can also be seen in the work of many contemporary musicians, including Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love.</p></div>

<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">C.</span> He Was Uncompromising</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Lou Reed remained true to himself throughout his career. He refused to compromise his artistic vision for commercial success and instead stayed true to his own values. This uncompromising attitude inspired generations of musicians to stay true to their own voices and not succumb to pressure from the industry.</p></div>

Interesting Facts

<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">1.</span> He was Kicked out of High School</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Lou Reed was kicked out of Syosset High School in New York for bad behavior in 1961.</p></div>

<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">2.</span> He Worked as a Typist</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">After being kicked out of high school, Lou Reed got a job as a typist at his father's accounting firm.</p></div>

<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">3.</span> First Song to Reach Number 1 on the UK Charts</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Lou Reed's single "Walk on the Wild Side" became the first song by an American artist to reach number one on the UK singles chart.</p></div>

<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">4.</span> Collaborated with John Lennon and David Bowie</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Lou Reed collaborated with both John Lennon and David Bowie on various projects throughout his career.</p></div>