John Cale

John Cale, OBE (b.1942) is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. Born on 9th March 1942 in Garnant, Wales, Cale spoke only Welsh until the age of seven, when he began to learn English at school. He went on to study viola at Goldsmiths College, University of London, where he became involved in avant garde music. He travelled to the U.S. to continue his studies, thanks to the help and influence of Aaron Copland, and met and worked with various avant garde composers, including John Cage.

Born on 9th March 1942 in Garnant, Wales, Cale spoke only Welsh until the age of seven, when he began to learn English at school. He went on to study viola at Goldsmiths College, University of London, where he became involved in avant garde music. He travelled to the U.S. to continue his studies, thanks to the help and influence of Aaron Copland, and met and worked with various avant garde composers, including John Cage.

In 1965 he co-founded the Velvet Underground with Lou Reed. Though best known for his work with the band, Cale has produced a massive body of work that ranges from tastefully arranged strings and piano over Dylan Thomas poetry to barely-suppressed, nigh-psychotic aggression set to high-energy avant garde rock. Cale's style is impossible to pin down, as almost every album contains new experiments and influences. He is also well known as the producer of such works as the debuts of The Stooges, The Modern Lovers, Patti Smith's Horses, and Nico's The Marble Index.