Leonard Cohen, iconic Canadian songwriter and poet, has died. He was 82.
A message on his Facebook page read: “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.”
No details about the cause of death were revealed and it is not clear exactly when Cohen died.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, son Adam Cohen said: "My father passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles with the knowledge that he had completed what he felt was one of his greatest records. He was writing up until his last moments with his unique brand of humour."
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After releasing You Want It Darker this year, Cohen told The New Yorker he was ready to die. “I hope it’s not too uncomfortable,” he said.
Cohen added: “I don’t know how many other things I’ll be able to get to, because at this particular stage I experience deep fatigue. There are times when I just have to lie down. I can’t play anymore, and my back goes fast also.
“The big change is the proximity to death. I am a tidy kind of guy. I like to tie up the strings if I can. If I can’t, also, that’s O.K. But my natural thrust is to finish things that I’ve begun.”
But, during an appearance at the Canadian consulate in Los Angeles last month, the singer said he was exaggerating. "I’ve always been into self-dramatization," Cohen said. "I intend to live forever.”
MORE: Pentatonix Debuts Video For Cover Of Cohen's "Hallelujah"
Born in Montreal, Cohen's career spanned five decades and influences countless artists.
Aaron Neville, who recorded Cohen's "Bird On A Wire," said in a statement: “I’m sure he’ll fit right in the heavenly band. He left goodness here for all.”
On Twitter, tributes have been pouring in. "Another magical voice stilled," tweeted Bette Midler.
Vocal group Pentatonix, who recently recorded a cover of Cohen's classic "Hallelujah," tweeted: "We are heartbroken over the passing of Leonard Cohen. Thank you for your beautiful music."
"Swift rebirth my friend," shared Canadian singer k.d. lang, who had recorded her own version of "Hallelujah."
Prime minister Justin Trudeau also remembered Cohen. "No other artist's music felt or sounded like Leonard Cohen's," he said in a tweet. "Yet his work resonated across generations.
"Canada and the world will miss him."