Leonard Cohen was an artist.
Leonard Norman Cohen ( September 21 , 1934 -- November 7 , 2016 ) was a Canadian singer , songwriter , musician , poet , novelist , and painter . Cohen returned to music in 2001 with the release of Ten New Songs , which was a major hit in Canada and Europe . Old Ideas is the twelfth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen , released in January 2012 . Recent Songs is the sixth studio album by Leonard Cohen , released in 1979 . Ten New Songs is Leonard Cohen 's tenth studio album , released in 2001 .