Leonard Cohen

Singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen penned emotionally moving, highly poetic ruminations on love, faith, the present and the future over the course of a highly respected career that drew comparisons with such iconic musicians as Bob Dylan. An acclaimed poet in his native Canada, Cohen began writing songs in the late 1960s, garnering initial attention for his song "Suzanne," which, like so much of his material, was covered by numerous artists. Though possessed of a gravely, near-monotone singing voice, Cohen's dramatic, jazz-infused delivery imbued songs like "Bird on a Wire," "Famous Blue Raincoat" and "Sisters of Mercy" with considerable passion and gravitas, which elevated him to cult status in the United States and full-fledged stardom around the world. A tribute album by longtime collaborator Jennifer Warnes in 1987 led to a career revival that positioned him as the musical forebear of the independent music scene, as well as a peer of such established songwriters as Paul Simon, Lou Reed and Joni Mitchell. During this period, his 1984 song "Hallelujah" found a second life in the hands of younger artists including Jeff Buckley and Rufus Wainwright. Cohen continued to remain prolific and relevant well into the 21st century, touring and recording with the energy and commitment to his craft of much younger performers. An inspirational figure to writers, poets and lovers for over a half-century, Leonard Cohen underscored rock-n-roll's status as a true art form by bringing literary brilliance to the medium. His death in November 2016 at the age of 82 was greeted with international displays of mourning befitting his status as an elder statesman of the arts.