Leonard Norman Cohen, CC, GOQ (born September 21, 1934 in Westmount, Montreal, Canada) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often deals with the exploration of religion, isolation, sexuality and complex interpersonal relationships.
Cohen's earliest songs (many of which appeared on the 1967 album, Songs of Leonard Cohen) were rooted in European folk music. In the 1970s, his music encompassed pop, cabaret and world music. Since the 1980s his high baritone voice has evolved into lower registers (bass baritone and bass), with accompaniment from electronic synthesizers and female backing singers. Over one thousand renditions of Cohen's songs have been recorded. He has been inducted into both the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and is also a Companion of the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian honour. While giving the speech at his induction into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10, 2008, Lou Reed described Cohen as in the "highest and most influential echelon of songwriters."
Titles and honours
* In 1968, Cohen refused a Governor General's Award for Selected Poems 1956–1968.
* In 1991, Cohen was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
* In 1993, Cohen won the Juno Award for Male Vocalist of the Year.
* In 1994, Cohen won another Juno Award this time for Songwriter of the Year.
* In 1996, he was ordained a Rinzai Buddhist monk.
* In 2001, Cohen was awarded a SNEP Award for more than 100,000 copies sold of Ten New Songs in France.
* In 2003, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada's highest civilian honour.
* In 2004, Beautiful Losers was chosen for inclusion in Canada Reads 2005. It was selected and originally to be championed by singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright; however, tour commitments meant that Wainwright had to be replaced by singer Molly Johnson.
* In 2006, Cohen was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
* In 2007, Cohen received a Grammy for Album of the Year as a featured artist on Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters.
* In 2008, Cohen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
* In June 2008 he was made a Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec.
Studio albums
* Songs of Leonard Cohen
* Songs from a Room
* Songs of Love and Hate
* New Skin for the Old Ceremony
* Death of a Ladies' Man
* Recent Songs
* Various Positions
* I'm Your Man
* The Future
* Ten New Songs
* Dear Heather
Books
* Let Us Compare Mythologies (poetry) 1956
* The Spice-Box of Earth (poetry) 1961
* The Favourite Game (novel) 1963
* Flowers for Hitler (poetry) 1964
* Beautiful Losers (novel) 1966
* Parasites of Heaven (poetry) 1966
* Selected Poems 1956–1968 (poetry) 1968
* The Energy of Slaves (poetry) 1972
* Death of a Lady's Man (poetry and prose) 1978
* Book of Mercy (prose, poetry, psalms) 1984
* Stranger Music (selected poems and songs) 1993
* Book of Longing (poetry, prose, drawings) 2006
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