Guitarist and composer, Glenn Branca dies aged 69

Composer and guitarist Glenn Branca (69) has passed away. The announcement was made by his wife and frequent musical collaborator Reg Bloor via Facebook. According to Bloor, Branca passed away in his sleep on May 13^th from Throat Cancer. Glenn Branca was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1948 and moved to New York City in 1976. In Manhattan, he formed the no wave band Theoretical Girls with Jeffrey Lohn. Branca released his first solo piece, Lesson No. 1, in 1980. The next year, he issued his debut album, The Ascension. The record features guitar from Lee Ranaldo, who met Thurston Moore through Branca. Glenn Branca later released Sonic Youth’s first two albums Sonic Youth and Confusion Is Sex on his Neutral Records label. Branca continued to write symphonies that were performed by the London Sinfonietta, the New York Chamber Sinfonia, and more. In 2009, Branca was awarded a grant from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts as part of its Grants to Artists program. Glenn Branca also contributed several opinion pieces to The New York Times.