Canadian singer Leonard Cohen dies aged 82

Canadian singer Leonard Cohen has died aged 82, according to a statement on his official Facebook page. "It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter and artist, Leonard Cohen has passed away," the announcement said. "We have lost one of music's most revered and prolific visionaries." There were no details about the cause of Cohen's death. A memorial will take place in Los Angeles at a later date, the announcement said. The Montreal-born singer's hits included Suzanne and I'm Your Man and he released his 14th album, You Want It Darker, just last month. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008. "This is a very unlikely occasion for me. It is not a distinction that I coveted or even dared dream about," he said. Born into a Jewish family, he later became a student of Zen Buddhism. For five years, from 1994 to 1999, he took a break from the music industry and lived at Mount Baldy Zen Center, east of Los Angeles. "My life was filled with great disorder, with chaos, and I achieved a little discipline there," he said. "So I decided to return to music.'' 'High priest of pathos' Media captionLeonard Cohen's once-forgotten classic Hallelujah eventually became his most famous work Leonard Cohen was called "the high priest of pathos" and the "godfather of gloom" But the influence and appeal of this poet, novelist, songwriter and legendary ladies' man has endured throughout his career. Often prone to depression throughout his life, his often, witty, charming and self-deprecating manner was reflected in his lyrics. Obituary: Leonard Cohen Record label Sony Music said it was proud to have "celebrated Cohen's artistry" over his six-decade career. "Leonard Cohen was an unparalleled artist whose stunning body of original work has been embraced by generations of fans and artists alike," it said in a statement. "The Sony Music Canada family joins the world in mourning Leonard Cohen's passing." Singers, writers and politicians paid tribute to Cohen on social media.