Up late last night, as I listened to ‘You want it darker’ I thought of the simple beauty of the melodies and kindness of his voice.

I fell asleep with ‘Steer Your Way’ playing in my mind, and it was the first thing I woke to this morning before I read the news.

A good friend gave me a copy of ‘Best of’ when we were teenagers, over twenty years ago. After Dylan, there wasn’t anyone we listened to more.

I remember the first time I heard his later recordings, and couldn’t believe how his voice had changed. A voice now so iconic.

As I explored his back catalog over those two decades, I focused more on the poetry behind the music.

Often an insight, often an inspiration, and more often than not a comfort and a friend.

He was perhaps the one person who could bring spirituality to those who had lost, or never had. Delivered to us to use as we needed.

I had the great fortune of seeing him on his first return tour, at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

It was an opportunity I never expected and remains one of the highlights of my life.

Rest In Peace Leonard Cohen.