Lin-Manuel Miranda, Josh Groban & More React to Passing of Leonard Cohen

By: Nov. 11, 2016
Enter Your Email to Unlock This Article

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe.




Existing user? Just click login.

Poet, novelist and songwriter Leonard Cohen passed away according to an announcement Thursday night on his Facebook page. He was 82.

While no details on the cause of death were revealed, his son Adam Cohen commented: "My father passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles with the knowledge that he had completed what he felt was one of his greatest records. He was writing up until his last moments with his unique brand of humor."

Cohen's first album was Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967) followed by Songs from a Room (1969) (featuring the often-recorded "Bird on the Wire") and Songs of Love and Hate (1971). His 1977 record Death of a Ladies' Man was co-written and produced by Phil Spector, which was a move away from Cohen's previous minimalist sound. In 1979 Cohen returned with the more traditional Recent Songs, which blended his acoustic style with jazz and Oriental and Mediterranean influences. "Hallelujah" was first released on Cohen's studio album Various Positions in 1984. I'm Your Man in 1988 marked Cohen's turn to synthesized productions and remains his most popular album. In 1992 Cohen released its follow-up, The Future, which had dark lyrics and references to political and social unrest.

Cohen returned to music in 2001 with the release of Ten New Songs, which was a major hit in Canada and Europe. His eleventh album, Dear Heather, followed in 2004. After a successful string of tours between 2008 and 2010, Cohen released three albums in the final four years of his life: Old Ideas(2012), Popular Problems (2014) and You Want It Darker (2016), the last of which was released three weeks before his death.

Celebrities turned to social media to share their reaction to the news of his passing:


The Recording Academy® Statement Re: Leonard Cohen
Nov. 10, 2016

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of GRAMMY® Award winner and 2010 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Leonard Cohen. During an influential career that spanned more than five decades, Leonard became one of the most revered pop poets and a musical touchstone for many songwriters. His extraordinary talent had a profound impact on countless singers and songwriters, as well as the wider culture. We have lost a cherished artist and our sincerest condolences go out to Leonard's family, friends, and collaborators. He will be missed terribly. - Neil Portnow, President/CEO - The Recording Academy

Statement from Sony/ATV Music Publishing: "Sony/ATV is deeply saddened by the passing of Leonard Cohen, a poet in the truest sense and someone whose treasure of songs we are proud to have represented over many years. He has been a unique and positive influence for six decades and it says everything about the enduring power of his music that just weeks before his death a brand new album by him was topping charts around on the world"

Image courtesy of Facebook



Videos