Revered singer, songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen dies aged 82

The Canadian artist passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles, his son, Adam, said.

No further details have been given of his death, which comes just weeks after he said he was “ready to die” in an interview.

He released his 14th and final studio album, You Want It Darker, in October.

“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,” his son told Rolling Stone.

A memorial will take place in Los Angeles, a statement on Cohen’s website said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid tribute to the Grammy Award winner who was also bestowed with the nation’s highest honour.

“No other artist’s music felt or sounded like Leonard Cohen’s. Yet his work resonated across generations. Canada and the world will miss him,” Mr Trudeau wrote on Twitter.

The PM also quoted a line from Hallelujah, which was famously covered by Jeff Buckley and inspired hundreds more interpretations.

The Recording Academy, which honoured Cohen with a lifetime achievement Grammy in 2010, said it was “deeply saddened” by the news.

“Leonard became one of the most revered pop poets and a musical touchstone for many songwriters,” chief executive Neil Portnow said.

“His extraordinary talent had a profound impact on countless singers and songwriters, as well as the wider culture.

“We have lost a cherished artist and our sincerest condolences go out to Leonard’s family, friends, and collaborators. He will be missed terribly.”

During a career spanning six decades Cohen earned a reputation for combining spirituality and sexuality and had a string of hits including Suzanne and Bird On A Wire.

He counted Nobel Prize-winning singer and songwriter Bob Dylan among his fans and despite his advancing age was still touring earlier this year.

Dylan told The New Yorker in October that Cohen’s best work was “deep and truthful, “multidimensional” and “surprisingly melodic”.

It has not been revealed how Cohen died, but he suggested he had come to terms with his approaching death in the same article.

He told the magazine: “I’ve got some work to do. Take care of business. I am ready to die. I hope it’s not too uncomfortable. That’s about it for me.”

The grandfather later qualified his comments in another interview, saying: “I think I was exaggerating. I’ve always been into self-dramatisation. I intend to live for ever.”

Cohen considered himself both a Jew and a Buddhist and from 1994 to 1999 lived as a disciple of Joshu Sasaki Roshi, a Zen Buddhist monk he met at university.

Born to a Jewish family on September 21 1934, Cohen’s first musical effort came in his teens when he formed a country music group called the Buckskin Boys