Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen (21 September 1934 – 7 November 2016) was a Canadian poet, singer-songwriter, and novelist who achieved the highest honors in his field. He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and was a recipient of the Order of Canada and the Princess of Asturias Award for literature. Cohen authored two novels and several volumes of poetry before recording his first album in his 30s. He maintained a loyal following throughout his career and gained mainstream success with the song “Hallelujah,” which has been covered in numerous languages by nearly 200 artists. In 1994, Cohen took a five-year break from the arts to live in a Los Angeles monastery. During this time, his manager and close family friend Kelley Lynch mismanaged Cohen's assets, depleting his accounts of millions. Although awarded $9 million in damages, Cohen never received the amount because Lynch disregarded the subpoena. Lynch was eventually sentenced to 18 months in jail in 2012 for violating a protective order that prohibited her from contacting him. Cohen's music has been featured in many films and television shows.