Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen was a Canadian poet, singer, and songwriter born on September 21, 1934, in Montreal, Quebec. He passed away on November 7, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. Cohen's artistic journey began with the publication of his poetry collections "Let Us Compare Mythologies" (1956) and "The Spice Box of Earth" (1961). After spending time in Europe, he settled on the Greek island of Hydra where he wrote more poetry and novels. In 1967, Cohen moved to the United States to pursue a career as a folk musician.

Cohen recorded 14 studio albums during his lifetime and left an indelible mark on music history. His work inspired numerous artists including John Cale whose cover of Cohen's song "Hallelujah" became widely known through Jeff Buckley's rendition. In addition to his musical achievements, Cohen was also recognized for his contributions as a poet and songwriter. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 as a performer and into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010.

Despite his success, Cohen sought solace at the Mt. Baldy Zen Center near Los Angeles where he spent five years immersed in seclusion. During this time, he became ordained as a Rinzai Zen Buddhist monk under the name "Jikan," meaning "silence." Leonard Cohen's legacy lives on through his timeless music