Remembering Leonard Cohen

Songwriter, poet and author, Leonard Cohen, has died at the age of 82.

A post on his Facebook reads, “It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter and artist, Leonard Cohen has passed away. We have lost one of music’s most revered and prolific visionaries. A memorial will take place in Los Angeles at a later date. The family requests privacy during their time of grief.”

Cohen has visited KCRW on a number of occasions, including a visit with Tom Schnabel for Rhythm Planet (read here) and Bookworm for his collection of poetry, Book of Longing (listen here).

Chris Douridas spoke with Steve Chiotakis immediately following the news.

Prior to the release of Leonard Cohen’s 14th album of original songs, You Want It Darker, Chris Douridas interviewed Cohen at the Canadian Consulate in Los Angeles. They talked about his health, thoughts on Bob Dylan’s recent Nobel Prize Award, and the role of religion in his life and work. The conversation would become his final public interview before his passing.

Over the coming days we’ll update this post with KCRW DJ thoughts and remembrances.

———

From Mario Cotto…

(Depeche Mode’s) Martin Gore’s cover of Cohen’s “Coming Back To You” is one of my all time favorite covers. Shimmering romantic melancholia. Perfect.

Famous Blue Raincoat is a perfect Leonard Cohen song. Frustratingly inscrutable, emotionally devastating and endlessly pretty.