Canadian singer/songwriter, poet and novelist.in 1957 cohen began reciting poetry from his first book, Let Us Compare Mythologies, but his monotone rantings of romantic despair did not catch on. Cohen continued to write poems and publish novels (The Favorite Game and Beautiful Losers).

Then came Judy Collins, the dubious catalyst for Cohen's off-beat writing. He wrote Suzanne for Collins, who turned the song into a radio phenomenon. A pair of sold out concerts in New York City, a musical appearance on CBS and a recording contract with Columbia Records followed. By early 1968 The Songs of Leonard Cohen sold more than 100,000 copies. Characterized by the same brooding recitations as its predecessor, 1969's Songs from a Room did not achieve commercial or critical success despite its popular tracks, Bird on the Wire and The Story of Isaac.

His cult status growing, Cohen released two more depressingly bleak albums, Songs of Love and Hate (1971) and New Skin for Old Ceremony (1974). Then he disappeared to a Greek island, where he spent a large chunk of the mid-'60s writing, reflecting and being a bohemian.

Cohen's second big break came in 1988 with I'm Your Man. Shortly after the release of The Future, packs of alternative rockers paid tribute to the sulking poet with two albums of creative covers: I'm Your Fan and Tower of Song.