American musician, songwriter, poet, and photographer (March 2, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York - October 27, 2013, Southampton, New York). Reed's music career began in 1958, when he recorded with his high school band, The Jades (2). 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 Pickwick International, Inc., and then in 1964, with John Cale, formed The Velvet Underground. 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), Sylvia Reed (1980-1994), and Laurie Anderson (2008).