.dannynorton · CC BY 2.0

Founded the Velvet Underground in 1965 with John Cale, Sterling Morrison, and Angus MacLise, and wrote most of its songs — deadpan, transgressive, unconcerned with radio play — during a run that sold almost nothing at the time but is now considered one of rock's most influential bodies of work. After leaving the band in 1970, he had a five-decade solo career; his second solo album, Transformer, produced by David Bowie, brought him mainstream recognition.