Profile Text
Birth Name: John Davies Cale
Place of Birth: Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, Wales
Date of Birth: 9 March, 1942
Ethnicity: Welsh, English
John Cale is a Welsh singer, musician, composer, record producer, and arranger. He was a founding member of American rock band the Velvet Underground. He has worked in styles across rock, drone, classical, avant-garde, and electronic music over his decades-long career. Sterling Morrison and Lou Reed were also members of the Velvet Underground. He was also part of avant-garde musical group Theatre of Eternal Music.
John is the son of Margaret, a primary school teacher, and William Cale, a coal miner. His mother spoke Welsh, and John has said that he began learning English only in primary school at age seven. He joined the National Youth Orchestra of Wales (NYOW) at thirteen, and moved to New York City, New York, U.S., in 1963. He has a daughter with his former wife Risé Irushalmi.
John’s paternal grandfather was Timothy Cale (the son of William Cale and Alice Lodge). Timothy was born in Newent Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England. William was born in Eastnor, Herefordshire, the son of John Deveraux and Esther/Hester Cale. John’s great-grandmother Alice was born in Pauntley, Gloucestershire, the daughter of Thomas Lodge and Ann Pugh.
John’s paternal grandmother was Adelaide Louisa Edwards (the daughter of James Edwards and Elizabeth Hendy). Adelaide was born in Matherne, Monmouthshire, Wales. James was born in Mathern, the son of William Edwards and Hannah Pearce/Pierce, whose family had roots in Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, England, as well as in Wales. John’s great-grandmother Elizabeth was born in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, England, the daughter of Thomas Hendy and Anne Nelmes.
John’s maternal grandfather was John Davies (the son of William Davies and Mary Williams). John was born in Llangiwg, Glamorgan, Wales. William was born in Gwernogle, Carmarthenshire, the son of Stephen Davies and Elinor Jones. Mary was born in Ludchurch, Pembrokeshire, the daughter of William Williams and Martha.
John’s maternal grandmother was named Margaret Jane Griffiths (the daughter of William Griffiths and Margaret). John’s grandmother Margaret was born in Pen-clawdd, Glamorgan, to parents from Carmarthenshire. William was born in Bettws, the son of Samuel Griffith and Anne James.