Canadian songwriting legend Leonard Cohen has passed away at the age of 82.
Cohen died on Tuesday but the family withheld the announcement until today so that arrangements for the funeral could be kept private. A public memorial is planned later in Los Angeles.
Leonard Cohen is considered one of North America’s greatest songwriters, on the same level as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon.
In 1961 Cohen published his first novel ‘The Spice-Box of Earth’ followed by ‘The Favourite Game’ (1963) and ‘Beautiful Losers’ (1966).
His first album ‘Songs of Leonard Cohen’ came in 1967. Three of the songs were used in the 1971 movie ‘McCabe & Mrs. Miller’. The best-known song from the album was ‘Suzanne’.
The second album ‘Songs From The Room’ in 1969 featured ‘Bird On A Wire’, a song covered by many over the years including Joe Cocker and his former backing singer Jennifer Warnes, who recorded the album of Cohen songs ‘Famous Blue Raincoat’ in 1987.
Cohen’s most famous song was ‘Hallelujah’, covered by Jeff Buckley and k.d. lang. It is a classic.
Leonard Cohen‘s recent album ‘You Want It Darker’ sparked controversy when Cohen said in interviews that he wasn’t afraid of dying. He later retracted the comments, saying he didn’t mean “now”. However, it retrospect, like David Bowie, his new album was written about his own death.
An official statement from Cohen management reads:
It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter and artist, Leonard Cohen has passed away.
We have lost one of music’s most revered and prolific visionaries.
A memorial will take place in Los Angeles at a later date. The family requests privacy during their time of grief.
