RIP

Legendary rock musician Lou Reed has died, according to Rolling Stone. He was 71 and had received a liver transplant in May. The cantankerous, groundbreaking New York legend gave the world over 50 years of music during a career that included his membership in the Velvet Underground, various work with Andy Warhol, collaborations with John Cale and a solo career that spawned too many classics to mention.

For electronic music fans, Reed’s most famous foray into the genre was 1975’s controversial Metal Machine Music, an avant-garde album he produced that helped usher in the noise and industrial music movements. I saw Reed perform the album live with Sarth Calhoun and Ulrich Krieger at the Gramercy Theatre in New York in 2010. It was a magical experience watching Reed begin the show by apologizing for the din he was about to make before launching into MMM‘s difficult to listen songs and what seemed like improv jams.

Rest in peace, Lou.

Vince Montana, Jr., best known for his work as a composer, arranger, producer, vibraphonist and percussionist for MFSB and the founder of the 35-member Salsoul Orchestra (“Love is The Message”), has died. Known for his classic string arrangements and percussion passages during the disco era that drew influence from a variety of musical styles, Montana also worked with famed house music duo Masters at Work and the Pet Shop Boys on “New York City Boy.” During his lengthy career Montana racked up over 25 gold and platinum album awards. An amazingly talented bandleader, musician and visionary, Montana started his career as a jazz musician in the ’50s before connecting with Gamble & Huff in the ’70s and helping to define the Philly sound that became a global phenomenon.

Montana’s body of work remains timeless. We will never see another like him ever again.