This person died in 2016 at age 82. He was an unlikely and reluctant pop star, if in fact he ever was one. In the 1960s, he lived in a house on the Greek island of Hydra, where he wrote a pair of novels. He was 33 when his first record was released in 1967. In the early 1970s, his record company concocted an advertising campaign where they called him “the master of erotic despair.” Around 1994, he abandoned his music career and moved to Mt Baldy monastery, where he was ordained a Buddhist monk. His best-known song, a majestic and meditative ballad which has been endlessly covered, is called “Hallelujah”. Today’s dead celebrity is Leonard Cohen.

Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss and includes a guest appearance from Christian Swain. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.com

If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like Episode 45 “Rebel Rebel” (David Bowie) and Episode 29 “Zen Comedian” (Garry Shandling).

LINKS:

Transcript of this episode

New York Times Obituary for Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen’s 75th birthday concert in Barcelona

Kate McKinnon sings “Hallelujah” on SNL after Leonard Cohen’s death

Susan Cain article on Leonard Cohen’s music

Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History podcast on Hallelujah

Dead or Alive quiz game

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Famous & Gravy official website

Famous & Gravy takes a biographical dive into the cultural imprint of Leonard Cohen as part of a obituary-based storytelling and known for smart pop culture podcast, by examining professional highs, private struggles, and symbolic impact. It examines how biography becomes mythology — and what that reveals about us. This show explores what makes a life worth remembering and contributes to famous lives reframed.

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