Tower of Song

A few weeks ago I found myself talking to Bernie Taupin. Bernie is one of the greatest lyricists in popular music, writing classics like Candle In The Wind with Elton John since his teens. At one point during our conversation I asked Bernie who he considered the best songwriter in the business. “Leonard Cohen”, he answered. “No-one else comes close.”

Two days back, two different friends sent me Facebook videos of Tom Jones, the great Welsh singer now in his 80s, on the TV programme The Voice. He was singing his heart out to Leonard Cohen’s Tower Of Song

Ten years ago, shortly before his death, talking at a promotional event in L.A for his final album You Want It Darker, Leonard announced, “I plan to live forever.”

He was telling the truth.

Tomorrow -Sunday 6th September - I’ll be talking about the afterlife of Leonard at the Main Library in San Francisco. Details on the tour page. It starts at 3, ends at 4, and I’ll happily answer your questions. And thanks to the great library system here in San Francisco, the event is free. See you soon.