MUSICIAN LEONARD COHEN has died, aged 82.
The world-famous musician’s death was confirmed early this morning on his official Facebook page.
“It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter and artist, Leonard Cohen has passed away,” the post reads.
“We have lost one of music’s most revered and prolific visionaries.”
The post goes on to say that a memorial service will be held in Cohen’s honour at a later date.
A memorial will take place in Los Angeles at a later date. The family requests privacy during their time of grief.
Cohen was a hugely successful recording artist whose career spanned decades, from the late-50s until just before his death,
A Canadian by birth, Cohen rose to fame in the late-60s with his first album Songs of Leonard Cohen.
This album contained such well-known songs such as Suzanne, So long, Marianne, and Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye.
Cohen went on to pen many other highly influential and well-known songs such as Hallelujah, Bird On A Wire and Sisters of Mercy.
A published poet and novelist, Cohen created lyrically deep and complex songs and melodies which struck a chord with generations of fans across the globe.
In a recent profile in the New Yorker magazine, Cohen talked about the prospect of his death:
I am ready to die. I hope it’s not too uncomfortable. That’s about it for me.
A prolific songwriter, Cohen released his 14th studio album You Want It Darker just three weeks ago on 21 October to wide critical praise.
The album dealt with themes of mortality, love and death and was Cohen’s final musical output to the world.
In a recent letter Marianne Ihlen – an ex-partner of Cohen’s and subject of So Long, Marianne and other songs – who was close to death, Cohen wrote:
Well Marianne, it’s come to this time when we are really so old and our bodies are falling apart and I think I will follow you very soon. Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine.
And you know that I’ve always loved you for your beauty and your wisdom, but I don’t need to say anything more about that because you know all about that. But now, I just want to wish you a very good journey. Goodbye old friend. Endless love, see you down the road.
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