Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016) was a Canadian songwriter, singer, poet, and novelist. His work frequently explored themes of faith and mortality, isolation and depression, betrayal and redemption, social and political conflict, sexual and romantic love, desire, regret, and loss. Cohen was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada
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Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016) was a Canadian songwriter, singer, poet, and novelist. His work frequently explored themes of faith and mortality, isolation and depression, betrayal and redemption, social and political conflict, sexual and romantic love, desire, regret, and loss. Cohen was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada, the nation’s highest civilian honor, and received multiple international awards, including a Prince of Asturias Award for literature and the Glenn Gould Prize. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked him as the 103rd-greatest singer. Cohen began his career as a poet and novelist during the 1950s and early 1960s, turning to music in 1966. His debut album, "Songs of Leonard Cohen" (1967), was followed by "Songs from a Room" (1969), "Songs of Love and Hate" (1971), and "New Skin for the Old Ceremony" (1974), establishing his folk music style. In 1977, he released "Death of a Ladies' Man", co-written and produced by Phil Spector, which marked a departure from his earlier minimalist sound. In 1979, Cohen released "Recent Songs", blending his acoustic style with jazz, East Asian, and Mediterranean influences. His song "Hallelujah", from the album "Various Positions" (1984), became one of his most renowned works. "I'm Your Man" (1988) showcased his turn toward synthesized productions, followed by "The Future" (1992), featuring darker themes and references to political and social unrest. Cohen returned with "Ten New Songs" (2001), which achieved commercial success in Canada and Europe, followed by "Dear Heather" (2004). After discovering financial mismanagement by his former manager, he resumed touring to recover his losses, leading to a series of successful tours from 2008 to 2013. In his later years, he released "Old Ideas" (2012), "Popular Problems" (2014), and "You Want It Darker" (2016), the last of which was issued shortly before his death. Posthumously, his fifteenth studio album, "Thanks for the Dance", was released in November 2019. Studio albums Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967) Songs from a Room (1969) Songs of Love and Hate (1971) New Skin for the Old Ceremony (1974) Death of a Ladies' Man (1977) Recent Songs (1979) Various Positions (1984) I'm Your Man (1988) The Future (1992) Ten New Songs (2001) Dear Heather (2004) Old Ideas (2012) Popular Problems (2014) You Want It Darker (2016) Thanks for the Dance (2019)
