Lou Reed

Lou Reed began the songwriting side of his influential music career as an in-house songwriter for Pickwick Records, delivering a hit in 1964 with the novelty dance hit “The Ostrich.” The Primitives were formed as a band to support it, and also included Welsh musician John Cale, with whom Reed would form the Velvet Underground in 1965 along with Sterling Morrison and Maureen Tucker. The historic group helped pave the way for the punk rock explosion of the 1970s, with songs like “Heroin” and “Sweet Jane.” They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, long after Reed had established himself as a major solo singer-songwriter thanks to such titles as “Walk On The Wild Side” and “Dirty Boulevard.”

Key songs in the Reed catalog include “Heroin,” “Pale Blue Eyes,” “Rock & Roll,” “Sweet Jane” and “Walk On The Wild Side.”

Back to nominees list