2016

Very sad news. I read recently his health rapidly declined after his enormous world tour a few years ago.

I am not his most obsessive fan, but I am definitely very fond of him, and I consider him a member of a certain rarefied group alongside, say, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Lou Reed, and Neil Young. Similar to David Bowie and Blackstar, his recent (and now, we know, final) album You Want It Darker is clearly designed to function as a farewell statement. And it does so nicely and intensely.

A few of my favorite L. C. songs:

I only knew him from the True Detective S2 theme song and that was great.

Leonard who?

Canadian poet and folk/soft-rock singer, active from around 1960 to his death. Fairly successful on a commercial level, though arguably more of a cult figure and critical favorite; inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, several of his records achieved gold or silver status in the United States and England, etc. Wrote a song called "Hallelujah" in 1984, and it is frequently featured in film and television, particularly a cover version performed by another musician by the name of Jeff Buckley.

Nice. I know Buckley, and up until a few seconds ago I thought he was responsible for "Hallelujah".

Such a beautiful lyricist. When thinking of poetry driven music it's Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen who come to mind. A unique, instantly memorable voice. Living in Canada obviously has a lot to do with it but for me this is another no doubt about it musical legend who passed.

RIP


Hallelujah .....what a beautiful song.

List

1. Suzanne
2. Hallelujah (although Buckley's version is one of the few cases where I consider the cover superior...I know, sacrilege)
3. Dance Me to the End of Love
4. Take the Waltz
5. Everybody Knows

Two out three...

Robert Vaughn's dead.

Three out of three...

Robert Redford retires from acting

2016 just had to take a few more!

Another veteran has died: Leon Russell, well-regarded solo artist, "A Song for You" composer, and iconic session collaborator with, among others, B. B. King, Barbra Streisand, the Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, George Harrison, and the Rolling Stones. He was 74 and still regularly touring despite health problems.