The Unlikely Musical Ascent of Leonard Cohen

Suzanne: The Lady Of The Harbor

In his thirties, Leonard Cohen wrote novels, poetry, and the occasional song. These were his passions, and he hoped to make a living at them. Unfortunately, at this early stage in his career, Cohen realized these passions couldn’t support him. Most people at this point would, with a heavy heart and great disappointment, turn to a more mundane and practical way to make a living. Not Leonard. He decided to earn his way with another one of his loves: Country Music. Along the way, Cohen had taught himself to play the acoustic guitar.

It should be noted that most successful singer-songwriters begin to hone their musical talents from the ages of somewhere between five and twelve. Again, not Leonard. It should also be noted that the decade-long eruption of folk music from the early sixties to the early seventies had passed Cohen by, largely unnoticed. In other words, Cohen’s chances of a successful music career were less than his chances in the literary arts. People laughed at his hubris.

Now, here’s the interesting part. I will refer to my experiences with my father to illustrate the point I’m going to make. My father was a very successful businessman. I once asked him, “What is the secret of your success?” In his typical manner, he gave me a short answer: “In my early thirties,” he said, “I found out that I had the goods.” Translated, that means my dad discovered that he had the talent in spades to build companies and make money.

Okay, let’s go back to Leonard Cohen. On his way to Nashville, Cohen stopped in New York. There, someone introduced him to Judy Collins. What are the odds of a no-name like Leonard Cohen meeting a rising star like Miss Collins? I’d say at least 28 million to one, unless there is another factor at play. And here’s what I believe. Because Leonard Cohen inherently “had the goods,” he met Judy Collins, and they became good friends. Eventually, Collins brought her friend’s work to the attention of a record label. In time, Cohen became a household name and an internationally known recording artist. Leonard Cohen, whether he knew it or not, had a remarkable musical talent. He had what it took to be a star.

And what I’ve discovered is that you can’t force it. Yes, it takes hard work to hone your talent, but don’t expect to be the 1% unless you are the 1%.

At some point, one has to accept whether or not one has “the goods.” I dreamed of becoming a widely read author. It never happened, but I’ve mellowed about it. I enjoy writing my little books that are read by my little audience. I never dreamed of reaching a broad audience with my music. But that has happened. It takes an effort, and I enjoy it almost as much as writing. I guess the moral of the story is to enjoy what you do if you are following your heart, and most importantly, don’t worry about the results.

Please enjoy my cover of Leonard’s beautiful song, Suzanne.