Born in the Westmount area of Montréal, Cohen was the creator of hundreds of works, including international classic songs such as “Suzanne,” “Tower of Song,” and “Hallelujah.” He was honoured numerous times for works that achieved official SOCAN Classic status, and he was celebrated at the SOCAN Awards in Toronto and the Gala de la SOCAN in Montréal on numerous occasions.

“Leonard Cohen was a legend among legends,” said Eric Baptiste, CEO of SOCAN. “With iconic songs that defined an entire era, he inspired many generations all over the world. SOCAN was honoured to count him among our most prominent members. He will be sorely missed, but his songs will live on.”

Leonard Cohen’s connection with and love for his hometown of Montréal remained strong throughout his life. “One could run intoLeonard Cohen at Bagel etc. on St-Laurent Blvd, in the heart of the Mile-End, having breakfast at the counter, a stone’s throw away from his apartment,” said Geneviève Côté SOCAN Chief Québec Affairs Officer. “Montréal was where he was born and, even though he belongs to the global music community, he was québécois and should be remembered that way.”

Cohen was a member of SOCAN for more than four decades, and Canada’s largest music organization collected royalties for his music catalog played worldwide.