Leonard Cohen is dead at 82, just a couple of weeks after delivering his final album. He was a great artist, a hero, and a genius. In a year when Prince, David Bowie and Glenn Frey, not to mention Natalie Cole, have all left us, this is another crushing blow. From “Suzanne” to “Hallelujah” and his numerous classics like “First We Take Manhattan,” Cohen was a glorious and unforgiving poet who was right up there with Dylan, Lennon, and Paul Simon.

A statement on his Facebook page reads: It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter and artist, Leonard Cohen has passed away. We have lost one of music’s most revered and prolific visionaries. A memorial will take place in Los Angeles at a later date. The family requests privacy during their time of grief.”

No cause of death was given but we can assume Cohen was ill. The new album, “You Want it Darker,” seemed to indicate he knew his time was up.

More in the morning. But do download or stream Jennifer Warnes’ “Famous Blue Raincoat” album of Leonard Cohen’s songs as well as his own recordings.

It’s all numbers– Sting is 65, looks 45, and played two shows last night back to back at Irving Plaza that reminded me of when he was 35 and launching his solo career. Tomorrow he releases a new collection of rock and pop songs called “57th and 9th” that puts to shame rock stars half his age.

But it’s also the musicianship and the architecture of his compositions– songs like “Message in a Bottle” and “Englishman in New York” sound brand new and as effervescent as they did when he first introduced them over three decades ago. And although he hasn’t released an album of songs like these in over a decade, the new ones are instantly recognizable sort of “next steps” in Sting’s songwriting canon.

I’m already in love with “I Can’t Stop Thinking About You,” a hit on Sirius and FM radio. But from the album there’s also the Beatle-y “Down Down Down,” the gorgeous ballad “If You Can’t Love Me” (a sort of masterwork that sounds like it grew from his great numbers on “The Last Ship”), a pop hit that radio will eat up called “One Fine Day” (with surprising lyrics) and “Petrol Head,” a punkish number that could have been found on an early Police album.

Sting, his longtime bandmate Dominic Miller, and the rest of his new crew could have been hidden behind a curtain and passed off as a new young hot band of the moment. It’s not just that they know what they’re doing, but they do it with soul. As on the album, the new songs come off so sharp in a live environment. And live, they and all the old songs like “Every Breath You Take” were incredibly fresh. An old Police chestnut, “Next to You,” just pounds away.

The second show last night was for members of Sting’s devoted fan club. They got a treat that the earlier audience didn’t (and mind you, these were two crowds of people who stood like sardines, danced and knew all the lyrics). Sting finished the second show sitting down for the first time, playing the ethereal “The Empty Chair,” which closes his album and was written for a new documentary about James Foley called “Jim,” which could earn him some movie award nominations this winter. The value added of the night was a talented female fan who jumped on stage and did a belly dance while Sting and the band performed “Desert Rose.”

What a night: Chris Botti was spotted in the audience, someone told me they saw the Olsen twins, there were actors and musicians from “The Last Ship” plus Oscar winner Paul Haggis. The two different crowds left on clouds maybe because it was so nice to see one of the last great rock stars fulfill their fantasies.

More on “57th and 9th” tomorrow.

There are a lot of shocks this week. I certainly thought Alicia Keys’ first new album in four years, called “Here,” would finish at number 1 this week. When it was released on Friday, “Here” went straight to number 1 on iTunes.

But Keys is only on iTunes and not on Amazon, which may have hurt her. It turns out Bon Jovi’s new album, “This House is Not for Sale,” is outselling her 2 to 1 in physical sales and almost that much in streaming. Bon Jovi will be number 1 by a comfortable margin.

Indeed, Alicia’s album is doing a lot less well than I thought. I’m not sure why except that there was little advance notice of it, no press copies until the day it was released. It took until the weekend to listen to it. But it has some great songs. A head scratcher.

Bon Jovi may have been aided by Jon’s appearance on Monday night at the Hillary Clinton fundraiser in Philly. While she didn’t win, the exposure for Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen was pretty amazing.

Bon Jovi will have one week at number 1. Sting’s “57th and 9th” comes on Friday, and it’s full of hits, great songs, a total success. Watch “57th and 9th” make a big number 1 debut at the end of next week.

Baby, it’s cold outside! That’s the theme for Trudie Styler’s Rainforest Fund concert– just announced for December 14th at Carnegie Hall. Sting will headline, of course, with Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor and Chris Botti on the bill– plus many surprise guests.

You can read more about it at the Rainforest Foundation website. This is a not to be missed event. (It’s the only time I got to meet Nina Simone, which was amazing.)

Plus Sting’s new album will be freshly out (this Friday, November 11th) along with Bruce’s just released “Chapter and Verse.” Trudie Styler (AKA Mrs. Sting) always comes up a cool theme for the show, which means the superstars will be performing some things very special not on their usual repertoire for “Baby  It’s Cold Outside.”

Since 1989, the Rainforest Foundation has expanded to 23 countries and raised millions for the indigenous peoples throughout Brazil and other countries including Belize, Cameroon, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mexico, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. And the money really goes to those people– it’s one of the best run of these types of charities.

For VIP tickets and dinner seats email rainforest@eventassociatesinc.com or go to Carnegie Charge or call 212-247-7800.