Leonard Cohen, the hugely influential singer and songwriter whose work spanned nearly 50 years, died at the age of 82. His record label, Sony Music Canada, confirmed his death on the singer's Facebook page.
"It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter and artist, Leonard Cohen has passed away," the statement read. "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." A cause of death and exact date of death was not given.
Cohen was one of a small group of enormously influential poets and songwriters to emerge from the New York scene in the Sixties – which included Bob Dylan. With his trademark, deep and melancholy voice, backed by expansive choral backing vocals and ability to turn songs about war, death and sex into melodic and accessible masterpieces helped him find success throughout every decade until his death. His best-known song is Hallelujah which has been covered by everyone from Jeff Buckley to X Factor winner Alexandra Burke.
The New Yorker recently wrote a profile on the singer saying:
In October 2016, he released You Want It Darker, produced by his son Adam. Severe back issues made it difficult for Cohen to leave his home, so Adam placed a microphone on his dining room table and recorded him on a laptop. The album was met with rave reviews, though a New Yorker article timed to its release revealed that he was in very poor health. "I am ready to die," he said. "I hope it's not too uncomfortable. That's about it for me."
The singer-songwriter later clarified that he was "exaggerating." "I’ve always been into self-dramatization," Cohen said last month. "I intend to live forever.”
And he was right. For if 2016 has taught us anything it’s that beloved icons may die, but their legacy forever remains.
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