New York Public Library Shares Lou Reed's Archives

On what would have been Lou Reed's 75th birthday, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts is honoring the singer's memory.

Handwritten notes, travel itineraries and more than 600 hours of recordings are some of the items on display at the library's new exhibit. It features Lou Reed's complete archives, even receipts from the time he worked at his father's accounting firm, all collected by the singer's wife, Laurie Anderson.  Anderson said her husband's work belongs to the world, and she is happy to be sharing it with the public. She said her husband loved young musicians, so the idea that they could come in and see Reed's work in detail is "really cool."

The exhibit spans Reed's entire creative life, even going back to his days in a high school band on Long Island. Reed's sister, Merill Weiner, recalls growing up with her big brother before his fame.

"Like he says in 'Baby Sister,' the song he wrote for me, 'You always thought I was the best.' That remained true for my whole life," she said.

Merill said she always admired her brother's work ethic, recalling how he'd spend time writing a dozen songs a day.

"As difficult as he could be — and indeed he could be difficult, but that was part of his being truly a genius — I just adored him."

The exhibit documents Reed's career as a musician, composer, writer and even tai-chi student. It's open to the public until March 20th. After then, it will be taken out to be processed by the museum for re-release in about a year.