This week Sue
Lawley's castaway is John Cale, a classically trained musician who went on to
found one of the most influential bands of the 1960s, Velvet Underground. John
Cale was brought up in a strict South Wales household. His maternal grandmother
insisted that Welsh was the only language to be spoken in the house even though
his father spoke only English. His childhood was solitary - he was an only
child and his mother encouraged him to spend hours each day practising his
piano playing, and he later took up the viola. He went on to have viola lessons
at the Royal Academy of Music while also studying music at Goldsmiths' Teacher
Training College in London.
He was
talent-spotted by Aaron Copland and awarded a musical scholarship to study in
America, where he was part of the contemporary avant-garde music scene there,
working with John Cage and LaMonte Young, until he met Lou Reed and the two
formed Velvet Underground. Their first album, The Velvet Underground and Nico,
remains their best known. Andy Warhol is credited as producer, it features Nico
on vocals and the cover is the famous Warhol banana. He went on to produce some
of the most influential artists of the time and has made New York his home -
although Wales continues to exert some draw over him. He continues to write
music and tour.
[Taken from
the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island
Discs]
Music Played-
Bob Dylan-She
belongs to me
Velvet
Underground-Some kinda love
Brian
Wilson-In my room
Beatles-She
said she said
Elbow-Switching
off
Leonard
Cohen-Alexandra leaving
John
Tavener-Song for Athene
Peter
Gabriel-Here comes the flood
| Captured
Internet Stream mp3 |
