Writing Leonard Cohen

[Buster1536]

Hello Cohenites

I have read in another thread that somenone contactet L.C. to show him a demo tape of derek daa. Now I thought if it might be possible to write L.C. an ask him for a autograph or just write him and wait for an answer...

What do you thing? Wehre should I write such a letter or Email? Is there an chance for an answer?

Thanks very much

Yours sincerely Sebastian Tischer

[Mondomando]

Hello Sebastian,

I thought I should respond to your question as I am the one who started the “Invocation/Invitation” thread earlier.

First I would like to say that I, in no way presume to know the limits or confines of Mr. Cohen’s or his management’s generosity and good grace. You may very well receive your desired response but I wish to clarify what I was writing about in the aforementioned thread.

I posted in the Forum as I believed (much like you I imagine) someone may be able to offer a lead. I also thought an artist endeavouring something like this would be relevent to the subect of this Forum. Derek (or Drek as he is called) is someone I know locally who is an established artist in Winnipeg. He is an award winning poet, songwriter, CBC columnist, arts organizer, and academic. Drek is from Poland originally and he started writing poetry in English in 2000, and since then has performed his poetry in all imaginable venues, winning, among other honors, the title of Canadian Individual Performance Poetry Co-Champion @ the 2004 Canadian Spoken Wordlympics Festival, Canada’s largest performance poetry festival. He was a subject of a 2004 full-length CBC documentary. He is a holder of 2006 grants from Canada Council for the Arts and Winnipeg Arts Council for the production of his poetry/song CD Just Jittering (released January 2007). Since 2005, Drek Daa has been a weekly columnist for the CBC Radio One as Drek Daa: That Polish Guy.

He is a very talented and personable artist. He recorded a song specifically for Leonard. It wasn’t a demo (as in, trying to pitch a song to a performer/producer) but rather something written and recorded for Mr. Cohen’s ears. I believed it might bless Leonard if not at least amuse him. So the idea was to gift Leoard rather than ask something of im. By the way I should clarify that I did all this independent of Derek.

When Drek got a response, not only from management but LC (through a third party) I was so happy for my friend. I was floored by the generosity and class of LC and his people. I wrote my last post in that thread because I wanted people (specially the hardcore fans here) to know that the generosity, humility and Cohen class that we read and hear about is no pose. It’s the real deal and his management displayed the same qualities. After seeing Leonard Cohen last night in Winnipeg I saw those qualities amply demonstrated in his band and backup singers as well.

When I wrote that Derek did hear from LC, I just wanted to celebrate the authentic nature of our perception of Mr. Cohen … and I suppose to celebrate my friend’s good fortune.

Any way, when I started the thread I didn’t hear from anyone here. There was no great secret lead passed on. I know others were trying to help Drek as well and I really don’t know for sure exactly who got through to the right people… my self I choose a route that is open to any one wishing to contact a professional performer that has management.

Best wishes,
Daevid

[Buster1536]

Hello Mondomando

i really thank you for your fast and very nice and informative answer. I heard a song called "Swinger of birches" on myspace and was fascinated, beacause he is an outstanding artist, full with passion and love o the music in his voice. I also love the little accent when he sings, it makes him human and independant and different from the rest, you know what i mean? I really would like to listen to some more songs and I heard that he has an album, but I dont know where to buy it, because I am living in Germany. Maybe you can also help me in that way?!

Know i have another question: You said that you contacted LC on a way that is open to everyone, but I have no idea how this "way" looks?! Can you help me and descripe how you contact him??


Thanks a lot for your incredible help

I wish you a very nice weekend

Yours Sebastian Tischer

[donalagata]

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[lizzytysh]

Hi donalagata ~

It would still need to go through Leonard's management, Robert Kory. With all of them being so busy now and for WHO knows how much longer, it's a slow way at best, I'd say. I guess if you gave him your phone #, if he chose to, he could call you back. Kory's address is on the front page of the Files, i believe. I can look it up tomorrow, if you don't find it tonite.



~ Lizzy

[donalagata]

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[Amycohentats]

I emailed Leonard Cohen yesterday through his agent. I got a reply from Kory staright away saying he will pass my email on to LC and that I am a talented young poet I would ne honoured by a reply from Cohen himself!

[lizzytysh]

And I'm glad you found the email address on your own, La donna. I'm sorry I wasn't more helpful, but sometimes the right direction is all we really need. It seems to be turning out well for you... you seem to have a record of that with him . Best wishes in it going that way, again.

Same with you, Amy. Kory is an extremely nice man. I found him to be very engaging when I met him in Montreal and, not sure why, was surprized by that. I love it when people aren't full of themselves.


~ Lizzy

[hydriot]

Kory is an extremely nice man. I found him to be very engaging when I met him in Montreal and, not sure why, was surprized by that.

Lizzy, I suspect the reason you were surprised is because Kory is a lawyer, and we all have stereotypes of the sort of person who goes into that profession!

[lizzytysh]

Hi Hydriot ~

You could well be right except for one thing... the fact that Kory is an attorney had receded to the recesses of my mind and to me he had become simply Leonard's and other celebrities's manager... therein, lies the temptation for many to succumb to their sense of self-importance, particularly when it comes to Leonard. "I know Leonard... " [woo-hoo], much less "I manage Leonard... " .

Not only did Kory consent to a photo with me, but he put his arm around me and his head near mine; then, as we continued in conversation, he asked my opinion of the merchandise they have available [as if my opinion would really matter in the scheme of things; yet, he asked... and was very attentive to and genuinely concerned with my response ~ the lights started blinking signaling the end of intermission, so our conversation ended. I had seen Esther and briefly said Hi, just in passing, intending to keep going, as they were standing together talking and I didn't recognize him; and, she instead made it a point to introduce us; I was very glad for that... and even moreso by the end than at the beginning]. It seems that, after the snafu with Kelley, Leonard is choosing his people even more carefully than before.

Many people who either are celebrities or associated with them in some way tend to look 'past' you as they talk with you, to keep an eye on the crowd, so as to ensure that they don't miss anyone who's 'really' important. My interaction with Kory had none ~ NONE ~ of that and I was impressed even in the moment and have continued to be ever since. His status as an attorney never entered my mind, during or since, until now, when you mentioned it... and caused me to remember that fact.

As attorneys go, I, too, have a few stereotypes [some of which I've seen broken by a few, most of which I've seen supported by many]. I've never had a particular desire to make the acquaintance of those in that profession, for that fact alone. Not that there aren't many just and decent ones... I know there are. Good heavens... Barack and Michelle are attorneys. Blows those stereotypes to smithereens for me.


~ Lizzy

[kgiordano]

There is, what I think is a really great tribute, on youtube to Hallejuah by a group of female madrigal singers from a high school in western massachusetts. I am sure that they would love to have Mr. Cohen see it. Does anyone know how to send a an email link to him or his manager? The video can be seen at youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUYm3wjoSeI