Lou Reed Biography: Songs, Wikipedia, Net Worth, Spouse, Height, Age, Nationality

Lewis Allan Reed, famously known as Lou Reed, was an American musician, songwriter, and guitarist, renowned as the frontman of the Velvet Underground—a pioneering band whose gritty sound and haunting, poetic lyrics left a lasting mark on rock music.

In the 1970s, Reed embarked on a solo career that yielded classics like “Walk on the Wild Side” and influential albums including “Transformer and “Berlin.

Profile

• Full Name: Lewis Allan Reed
• Stage Name: Lou Reed
• Born: March 2, 1942
• Date of death: October 27, 2013 (Aged: 71 years)
• Birthplace: lBrooklyn, New York, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Musician, songwriter, and guitarist
• Height: 1.78m
• Parent: Toby Reed ,Sidney Joseph Reed
• Siblings: Merrill
• Spouse: Bettye Reed (m. 1973–1973), Sylvia Morales (m. 1980–1990), and Laurie Anderson (m. 2008–2013)
• Children: None
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $15 million

Early Life And Education

Lou Reed was born on March 2, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York, to Toby and Sidney Joseph Reed, an accountant. He had a younger sister named Merrill, also known as Margaret.

Reed grew up in Freeport, Long Island, where he attended Atkinson Elementary School and Freeport Junior High School.

He later continued his education at P.S. 192 in Brooklyn. Of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, all his grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe.

Reed often expressed a profoundly personal and unconventional perspective on religion through his music.

Career

Lou Reed’s professional career took off in the mid-1960s when he became the founder, guitarist, lead vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground.

Although their early albums—The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967), White Light/White Heat (1968), The Velvet Underground (1969), and Loaded (1970)—were initially met with limited commercial success, they later gained recognition as groundbreaking works that reshaped the landscape of rock music.

With provocative lyrics that delved into subjects like sexuality, addiction, and city life, paired with a raw, experimental sound, the band, guided by artist Andy Warhol, became a central force in New York’s avant-garde art scene.

Reed’s songwriting during this period, highlighted by songs such as “Heroin,” “Sweet Jane,” and “Pale Blue Eyes,” redefined the artistic possibilities of rock music.

Following his departure from The Velvet Underground in 1970, Reed launched a solo career that solidified his place in mainstream and underground music culture.

His 1972 album Transformer, produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson, featured “Walk on the Wild Side,” a breakthrough hit that became emblematic of his work.

Over the next two decades, Reed released a succession of influential albums, including Berlin (1973), Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal (1974), Street Hassle (1978), and The Blue Mask (1982). These works continued his exploration of gritty realism, personal turmoil, and urban narratives.

His 1989 album New York, known for its sharp sociopolitical critique, reaffirmed his relevance and artistic vitality in an evolving musical landscape.

Reed remained committed to experimentation and artistic risk in the later stages of his career. He reunited with former bandmate John Cale for Songs for Drella (1990), a poignant tribute to Andy Warhol.

He later collaborated with heavy metal band Metallica on Lulu (2011), a polarizing and ambitious project.

Beyond music, Reed also engaged in theater and literature, demonstrating his multidimensional creativity.

Throughout his career, Lou Reed was celebrated for his innovation and uncompromising commitment to authenticity and artistic exploration.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @loureedofficial
• Twitter handle: @LouReed

Personal Life

Lou Reed was married three times. His first marriage, to Bettye Kronstad in 1973, was short-lived.

He married British designer Sylvia Morales in 1980, a union that lasted until their separation in the early 1990s.

In 2008, he married musician and artist Laurie Anderson, with whom he remained until he died in 2013.

Reed also had a notable relationship with Rachel Humphreys, a transgender woman, from 1973 to 1978. He did not have any children.

Discography

•   Lou Reed (1972)
•   Transformer (1972)
•   Berlin (1973)
•   Sally Can't Dance (1974)
•   Metal Machine Music (1975)
•   Coney Island Baby (1975)
•   Rock and Roll Heart (1976)
•   Street Hassle (1978)
•   The Bells (1979)
•   Growing Up in Public (1980)
•   The Blue Mask (1982)
•   Legendary Hearts (1983)
•   New Sensations (1984)
•   Mistrial (1986)
•   New York (1989)
•   Magic and Loss (1992)
•   Set the Twilight Reeling (1996)
•   Ecstasy (2000)
•   The Raven (2003)
•   Hudson River Wind Meditations (2007)

Net Worth

Lou Reed’s estimated net worth was $15 million at the time of his death in 2013.

His wealth largely stemmed from music royalties and publishing rights earned through his influential work with The Velvet Underground and his successful solo career, especially from iconic songs such as “Walk on the Wild Side.”