Lou Reed, esteemed musician, songwriter, and poet, passed away on October 27, 2013, at the age of 69. Reed began exploring music in his native Long Island in the 1950s, and by the 1960s he had become a fixture of New York City's eclectic and electric music scene. After leading the band the Velvet Underground, Lou Reed then embarked on a fiercely prolific solo career, spanning nearly five decades. Reed's influence is impossible to strategize, from his eerie soundscapes to his punk-rock swagger to his searingly honest lyrics, he maintained an influential presence in the music industry. He released several solo records, with chart-topping singles such as 'Walk on the Wild Side', 'Perfect Day', 'Coney Island Baby', and 'New York Telephysics'. He also collaborated on several records that further broadened his reach, most memorably with Metallica on 'Lulu' in 2011. Reed will be remembered fondly for his expansive and unmistakably distinct work. He earned countless awards for his music, and will always be remembered as an innovator who pushed boundaries with his sound throughout his storied career.