Some key dates in the life and career of Leonard Cohen:
Sept. 21, 1934: Leonard Cohen is born in Montreal.
1945: Cohen’s father dies.
1951: He enrols at McGill University, where he goes onto win a literary award for some of his original poetry.
1954: Cohen’s poetry is published for the first time in CIV/n Magazine.
1955: Graduates from McGill with a Bachelor of Arts.
1956: Publishes his first book of poetry, “Let us Compare Mythologies.”
1956: Temporarily moves to New York to pursue graduate school, but returns to Montreal after a year.
1961: Publishes “The Spice-Box of Earth,” a critically acclaimed book of poetry.
1963: Publishes his first novel, “The Favourite Game.”
1966: Publishes his second novel “Beautiful Losers,” a book deemed highly controversial at the time but that has gone onto critical acclaim and strong sales.
1967: Embarks on a new phase of his career by releasing his first album as a singer-songwriter, “Songs of Leonard Cohen.” The album featured two of his most famous compositions, “Suzanne” and “So Long, Marianne.”
1969: Declines to accept the Governor General’s Award for his book “Selected Poems.” According to a Globe and Mail article printed at the time, he declined the award on the grounds that “the world is a callous place and he would take no gift from it.”
1972: Cohen and then-partner Suzanne Elrod give birth a son, singer-songwriter Adam Cohen.
1974: Cohen and Elrod welcome their daughter Lorca.
1984: Releases “Various Positions.” The album contains arguably his most iconic song, “Hallelujah.”
1987: Cohen’s music and reputation enjoy a popular revival after U.S. singer Jennifer Warnes releases “Famous Blue Raincoat,” a tribute album of Cohen tracks.
1988: Releases the album “I’m Your Man” to wide international acclaim.
1991: Named to the Order of Canada. He would be promoted to a Companion of the Order 12 years later.
1991: Inducted into Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
1992: Receives an honorary degree in literature from McGill.
1992: Releases “The Future,” an album packed with troubling songs about political and human failure like “Democracy” and the title track, which tells of a world in complete disarray.
1993: Wins his first of five Juno awards.
1993: Wins the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for lifetime achievement.
1994: Enters a Buddhist monastery and remains there for five years, becoming ordained as a monk in the process.
2001: After long hiatus from recording, Cohen releases the album “Ten New Songs.”
2005: Successfully sues former manager Kelley Lynch, accusing her of taking $5 million from his personal savings. A court ruled in favour of Cohen and awarded him $9.5 million, but it is not believed he received any of the money.
2006: Inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
2008: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2008: Returns to touring after 15 years off in order to recoup some of his financial losses.
2010: Receives a Lifetime Achievement Grammy award. His only previous Grammy honour came from his participation on a Herbie Hancock album in 2008.
2010: Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
2011: Receives the Spanish Prince of Asturias Award for literature.
2012: Receives the Glenn Gould Award, a biennial honour given to those who have made a unique lifetime contribution to the arts.
2012: Cohen launches an extensive world tour that lasts for a year and a half, starting in Europe before heading to North America and Australia.
2014: Releases the album “Popular Problems,” which hits No. 1 on the Nielsen’s Canadian album charts.
2015: “Popular Problems” wins Juno album of the year.
Oct. 21, 2016: Releases the album “You Want It Darker” to critical acclaim. It debuted on the top of the Canadian charts and No. 10 on the Billboard 200.
Nov. 10, 2016: A statement is released saying Cohen has died at the age of 82.
The Canadian Press
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version stated Cohen died Thursday. A statement announcing his death was released Thursday.
