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I have had a musical love affair with Leonard Cohen for over 40 Years . His deep , sultry ,somewhat depressive but highly sexy voice has always appealed . The fact that his voice can seem depressing does not however depress me . I actually find when I am feeling down that Leonard Cohen's music just fits my mood . It does not lift me but it seems appropriate and in a way helps me release my sadness .

So who is Leonard Cohen.

Leonard was born on the 21st of September , 1934 , in Montreal, Quebec, Canada . His career began in the late 1960's and he grew into a successful singer / songwriter who is still going strong in the 21st Century . Cohen's fans come from all generations and walks of life . His music has a timeless feel and he is a fascinating personality .
He is often ranked second only to Bob Dylan and I would agree with that , though only just . Many of Cohen's classics , for me rival Dylan's and win .

At 17 , whilst at university , his writing and poetry took off . When he graduated in 1955 he almost immediately published his first book of poetry Let Us Compare Mythologies . As is often the case this book was acclaimed but not a financial success .

In 1961, Leonard Cohen published his second book of poetry . This was called ' The Spice Box of Earth' and it was much more successful . It became an international success both critically and commercially. This book of poetry established Cohen as a new and major literary figure in the literature art world . He spent much of the early sixties in Greece and published other works from there .

As like Dylan he is more a poet who has put his words to music than just a singer / songwriter . Unlike Dylan by the time Cohen began recording and playing his music live he had successfully written books and poetry . As such he was late starting his musical career in that he was in his mid-thirties when the album 'Songs from a room ' was released . This was the first album I heard or bought of Cohen when I was sweet sixteen and I still play it to this day . Although I have bought much more recent offerings from Cohen and find them equally good .

The thing with his first album was it was very different . In early 1968 when it was released it did not sit well in any particular style . I often see it listed under a rock genre but for me it is folk or folk rock .

I went on to buy Songs from a room' with so many great tracks which have subsequently become classics .The haunting Bird on a wire' will remain a favourite forever .

To me Cohen's poetry is his written poetry but also his words which have been put to such soulful music . He influenced a generation with meaningful words which were very much of the day . He characterised the sixties but unlike many of his contemporaries has moved on and carried on developing . He went on to influence successive generations and has left a lasting legacy .

For me however he will always be an influence of the late sixties and early seventies when he was so much a part of my youth .

Learn more about this author, Ethel Smith.
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