AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – JULY 7: Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones performs live on stage during a concert of The Rolling Stones at the Johan Cruijff Arena on July 7, 2022 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Sven Hoogerhuis/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

Keith Richards pays homage to the legendary Lou Reed with his rendition of the Velvet Underground’s timeless classic “I’m Waiting for the Man,” set to feature in the upcoming compilation album “The Power of the Heart: A Tribute to Lou Reed.” Scheduled for release on April 19 on CD/digital formats, followed by a vinyl release on the subsequent day as part of Record Store Day, the announcement coincides with what would have been Reed’s 82nd birthday on March 2.

Reflecting on Reed’s profound impact, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards remarks, “To me, Lou stood out. The real deal! [He was] important to American music and to ALL MUSIC! I miss him and his dog.” Richards, who celebrated his 80th birthday last December, joins a diverse lineup of artists paying homage to Reed, including Rosanne Cash, Rufus Wainwright, Lucinda Williams, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, the Afghan Whigs, Bobby Rush, Maxim Ludwig and Angel Olsen, and Rickie Lee Jones. The compilation is helmed by veteran music executive Bill Bentley, who shares a longstanding history with Reed.

Rufus Wainwright, covering Reed’s solo hit “Perfect Day,” reflects on Reed’s enduring presence, stating, “He is one of the few people whom I miss as much now as when he left. There are so many instances where I wonder what he would say or what he would think. His general aura would always lend something really unique to the room. Thank God he left his great music and recordings. His personality is sorely missed.”

Brogan Bentley, son of producer Bill Bentley, contributes his rendition of “The Power of the Heart” as a bonus track on the CD and digital versions, aiming to capture the vulnerability and tenderness of Reed’s love for his wife Laurie Anderson, as well as the universal experience of love.

“The Power of the Heart” marks the third Reed-related archival project from Light in the Attic Records. Their previous release, “Words & Music, May 1965,” featuring early recordings of Velvet Underground classics, received a Grammy nomination in 2022. Additionally, the label reissued Reed’s final solo album, “Hudson River Wind Meditations,” following his passing in 2013.