About this item
Leonard Cohen was a master songwriter, musician, poet, novelist and visual artist whose stunning body of original work touched the lives of millions over a career spanning six decades. With over 23 million albums worldwide and 12 published books, Cohen's influence on musical and theatrical artists the world over, is inestimable. In addition to numerous Juno Awards, Grammy Awards and many other award wins and nominations, Cohen was honoured as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient (2010) , inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame (2008) , the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame (2006) , the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame (2006) and the Songwriters Hall Of Fame (2010) . He received the prestigious Principe de Asturias Prize (2011) , the Glenn Gould Prize (2011) , Canada s highest civilian honours - Officer of the Order of Canada (1991) , Companion to the Order of Canada (2003) and the Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec (2008) .
About the Author
Leonard Norman Cohen is a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. Cohen's earliest songs (many of which appeared on the 1968 album Songs of Leonard Cohen) were rooted in European folk music melodies and instrumentation, sung in a high baritone. The 1970s were a musically restless period in which his influences broadened to encompass pop, cabaret, and world music. Since the 1980s he has typically sung in lower registers (bass baritone, sometimes bass) , with accompaniment from electronic synthesizers and female backing singers. His work often explores the themes of religion, isolation, sexuality, and complex interpersonal relationships. Cohen's songs and poetry have influenced many other singer-songwriters, and more than a thousand renditions of his work have been recorded. He has been inducted into 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. Cohen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10, 2008 for his status among the "highest and most influential echelon of songwriters".
