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Lee Ranaldo

Guitarist Lee Ranaldo was a founding member of the legendary alternative rock band Sonic Youth, and also maintained an exceptionally varied and prolific career as a solo artist, author, editor and composer on fiercely independent projects. The New York native shared guitarist Thurston Moore and bassist Kim Gordon's love for experimental music and joined forces in 1981 to form Sonic Youth; Ranaldo brought structure and form to Moore's ferocious, dissonant assault, and their combined efforts helped to elevate Sonic Youth from cult favorite in the 1980s to mainstream popularity in the '90s and 2000s. Ranaldo also released a slew of albums as a solo performance and with other groups that showcased his dazzling improvisational talent, as well as numerous books of essays and poetry. When Sonic Youth went on hiatus in 2011, Ranaldo focused his efforts on his solo career, releasing two well-received albums with his new band, The Dust, in 2012 and 2013. Their success underscored Ranaldo's enduring status as one of alternative rock music's most adventurous and respected figures.