John Cale
Biography
John Cale is a Welsh musician and composer whose work has moved between rock and avant-garde music for over six decades. Born in Garnant, he trained in music at Goldsmiths in London and settled in New York City in 1963, where he played with the drone group the Theatre of Eternal Music. With Lou Reed he founded the Velvet Underground, recording two studio albums before leaving in 1968. He then built a solo career that has produced seventeen studio albums, among them Paris 1919 (1973), considered his masterpiece. He has also worked as a record producer and arranger, and in 1990 he reunited with Reed for Songs for Drella, a tribute to Andy Warhol. His 1991 cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah shaped many later versions. In 1996 the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted him as a Velvet Underground member. He has composed film soundtracks and a ballet score as well.
84years old
Turns 85 on March 9in 147 days
- Born Garnant
- Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
- John Davies Cale (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 3
- Career span
- 6 years2016 to 2022
Every film, newest first
- 2022Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a SongIMDb rating 7.6
- 2021The Velvet UndergroundIMDb rating 7.3
- 2016Gimme DangerIMDb rating 7.2
Genres
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A role that slipped away
As tensions between Reed and Cale grew, Reed told Morrison and Tucker he would quit the band unless Cale was fired. Morrison and Tucker went along with the plan, though they were reluctant.
Early training
Cale joined the National Youth Orchestra of Wales at age 13 after discovering a talent for viola, then studied music at Goldsmiths College on a scholarship.
A first
Cale joined John Cage and others on 9 September 1963 for a piano marathon lasting 18 hours and 40 minutes. It was the first complete performance of Erik Satie's Vexations.
Behind the camera
Cale moved into record production and arranging once he left the Velvet Underground. His studio work included the Stooges' self-titled 1969 debut and Nico's The Marble Index, Desertshore and The End, where he backed her voice and harmonium with an unusual mix of instruments.
Behind the camera
In 1978, Cale handled most of the production on Squeeze, the band's debut studio album. He told the group to throw out everything they had written so far and come up with new songs.
John Cale movies on Netflix
Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Songas Himself
The Velvet Undergroundas Himself
Gimme Danger
Most often with
Three actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
David Bowie2 films together, 2016 to 2021
David Bowie's page The Velvet Underground2021IMDb rating 7.3Cale as HimselfBowie as Himselfvoice
Gimme Danger2016IMDb rating 7.2Bowie as Himself
Nico2 films together, 2016 to 2021
Nico's page The Velvet Underground2021IMDb rating 7.3Cale as HimselfNico as Himself
Gimme Danger2016IMDb rating 7.2Nico as Himself
Danny Fields2 films together, 2016 to 2021
Danny Fields's page The Velvet Underground2021IMDb rating 7.3Cale as HimselfFields as Himself
Gimme Danger2016IMDb rating 7.2Fields as Himself
Awards
Six awards and honors from 1996 to 2014.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 2014 | Człowiek ze Złotym Uchem | Won | |
| 2010 | Officer of the Order of the British Empire | Won | |
| 2000 | Honorary degree | Honorary | |
| 2000 | Honorary doctor of the University of Antwerp | Honorary | |
| 1997 | Honorary degree | Honorary | |
| 1996 | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | Won | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.

