A Thousand Kisses Deep: Who Is Who? Leonard's People

Anjani Thomas

Back-up singer and keyboard player on 1985 tour with Various Positions. (On VP-songs she more duetted in manner of Jennifer Warnes from the album). After that tour she stayed closely connected with LC. Sang back ups for both I'm Your Man and The Future. In 1999 she co-wrote the song »Villanelle For Our Time« with LC, which, after it was omitted on his 2001' Ten New Songs all-collaboration with Sharon Robinson, is now on 2004 release Dear Heather, on which Anjani produced and back-uped on some more songs. Anjani released her own two albums, first titled Anjani (2000), and second - containings her own spiritual songs on acoustic guitar, produced with Cohen's help - The Sacred Names.
Anjani's third album, Blue Alert, co-written and produced by Leonard Cohen was released in Canada and United States in May 2006. For more information, visit www.bluealertmusic.com.
Go to Anjani's website, where you can find excellent interview with Anjani, conducted by Marie Mazur, and the new interview regarding the production of Dear Heather.

Batalla, Perla

Back-up singer on 1988 and 1993 tours. On 1992' The Future sang back-ups and made basic arrangements for »The Future«. On 1988 tour she also suggested the new arrangement for »First We Take Manhattan«, instead of the original euro-disco arrangement introduced by Jennifer Warnes on her Famous Blue Raincoat' launching of the song. Perla's solo career started in 1994 with Perla Batalla, the album which included not only cover of »Seems So Long Ago, Nancy«, but also Leanne Ungar in production chair, and some members of Leonard's live band as musicians. After more two critically-acclaimed albums, and performances on major Leonard Cohen Fan Events, Perla celebrated Leonard's 70th birthday (September 2004) with the release of her tribute album Bird on the Wire in Spring 2005. Lately she's appearing - along with Julie Christensen - on Hal Willner's Leonard Cohen tribute shows.
Perla's site!

Bilezikjian, John

Played oud and mandolin on 1979' Recent Songs and 1979 and 1980 tours with the album. Played oud on »Everybody Knows« on 1988' I'm Your Man, and joined Leonard's new band to play oud on 1988 tour, on which he memorably played »Who By Fire?«, »The Partisan«, »Eveybody Knows«, »There Is A War« among other songs which included oud.
Bilezikjian is releasing his own acclaimed solo albums with oud performances, and performed with Placido Domingo and some Oscar-winning major movies.
John Bilezikjian's site

Clennell, Geoff

1985 and 1988 tour manager.

Cohen, Lorca

Leonard's daughter with Suzanne Elrod. Named after, of course, Federico García Lorca.

Cohen, Masha

Leonard's mother.

Cohen, Nathan B.

Leonard's father.

Devlin, Jim

Leonard Cohen's biographer and writer. Edited The Leonard Cohen Newsletter from 1984 until 1994, and then published - for now - three books: Leonard Cohen. In Every Style Of Passion (Omnibus Press 1996), Leonard Cohen In His Own Words (Omnibus Press 1998) and 1997' Is This What You Wanted: A guide to the tours and concerts of Leonard Cohen, 1970-1993 (privately published and available only by emailing to JD - we'll give you the adress on demand).

Machine

Credited for cover photo of Songs Of Leonard Cohen, 1968. Probably the photo machine.

Sherman, William David

Wrote Leonard Cohen: Conjurer, notes to the Songs Of Leonard Cohen, 1968.

Simon, John

Credited as musical director and producer of Songs Of Leonard Cohen, 1968.