As tributes for Leonard Cohen continue to pour in from notable figures in both the world of music and poetry, his quick but critical stay in Edmonton is being remembered.
“He spent several weeks here in 1966 as a guest of the University of Alberta Faculty of Arts and in fact, one of the songs here was inspired by his meeting and friendship with two undergrad students at the U of A,” Todd James, music director at Edmonton radio station K97, said Friday. “The song was called Sisters of Mercy.”
The song became one of Cohen’s best-known compositions and was later covered by a variety of different musicians including Judy Collins, The Chieftains and Beth Orton.
According to James, during Cohen’s stay in Alberta’s capital, he also performed at the Yardbird Suite, a long-running jazz venue in Old Strathcona.
“He had just finished his novel called Beautiful Losers, so he was more of a poet and a writer and he really started to venture into his musical career.”
On Thursday, news broke that the Quebec-born cultural icon had died. He was 82 years old.
READ MORE: Leonard Cohen, influential Canadian musician, dies at 82
Watch below: Leonard Cohen, one of Canada’s greatest songwriters, passed away at 82. The Montreal native began his career in the 1960s and was still producing critically acclaimed music in 2016. Eric Sorensen has a look back at his life and influence.
A traditional Jewish memorial service was held for Cohen in Quebec on Thursday.
On Saturday, fans of the late musician continued to stream past his Montreal home to pay their respects by lighting candles and leaving flowers on his doorstep.
Watch below: Fans gather outside Leonard Cohen’s Montreal home to sing his songs in memorial
He was also honoured with an official book of condolences, with a registry available online for those unable to sign the memorial book in person.
-with files from The Canadian Press.
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