According to a post on his official Facebook page, legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen has passed away at the age of 82. The post mourns the loss of "one of music’s most revered and prolific visionaries," and asks for his family's privacy during this difficult time.
Cohen's most recent album, You Want It Darker, was released in October to much acclaim. Shortly before the album was released, he spoke about his declining health in an interview, stating, "I am ready to die." He later changed his opinion on the subject after the release of his album, declaring "I intend to live forever... I intend to stick around until 120" in a new interview.
The multi-talented musician enjoyed a long, fruitful career, changing the course of popular music by releasing groundbreaking songs like "Hallelujah." His debut album, Songs of Leonard Cohen, was released in 1967, and featured the song "Suzanne," his breakout hit. His songs have been covered by the likes of Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson, proving that his impact was widely felt throughout the industry. Before he pursued a career in music, Cohen published two novels, The Favourite Game and Beautiful Losers. He was also an avid poet throughout his entire life.
Read the Facebook post in full below.
