Biography of Leonard Cohen

Although he played music during his college years, Canadian poet, novelist, and singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen did not turn professional until he was in his 30s. A graduate of McGill University, he published several books of poetry starting in the '50s and two novels, The Favorite Game and Beautiful Losers, in the '60s. After his songs had been recorded by Judy Collins, Cohen turned to singing and released his debut album, Songs of Leonard Cohen, in 1968. It contained such typical material as the highly poetic "Suzanne," which had been a singles hit for Noel Harrison. Cohen continued to write and record albums (though less and less frequently) throughout the '70s and '80s, all of them featuring his deepening voice and lyrics that were by turns depressing, comic, and erotic. His 1977 album, Death of a Ladies Man, was a collaborative effort with eccentric producer Phil Spector. By the '80s, Cohen's music was being celebrated by the school of doom-rock performers led by Nick Cave and others (resulting in the tribute album I'm Your Fan, 1991), but Jennifer Warnes's all-Cohen album Famous Blue Raincoat (1987) was a more accessible sampler. The artist himself made one of the best albums of 1988 in I'm Your Man. ~ William Ruhlmann