Difference between revisions of "Jeff Buckley" - New World Encyclopedia

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'''Jeff Buckley''' ([[November 17]], [[1966]] – [[May 29]], [[1997]]) was an [[United States|American]] [[singer-songwriter]] and [[guitar]]ist and the son of folk singer Tim Buckley.
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'''Jeff Buckley''' ([[November 17]], [[1966]] – [[May 29]], [[1997]]) was an [[United States|American]] [[singer-songwriter]] and [[guitar]]ist and the son of folk musician Tim Buckley.
  
 
Emerging in the 1990s, Buckley impressed critics and audiences with his versatile and haunting vocals. Known for his ethereal singing voice and natural [[vibrato]], Buckley was considered to be one of the most promising artists of his generation after the release of a rough EP entitled ''[[Live at Sin-é]],'' followed by his critically acclaimed [[1994]] debut album ''[[Grace (album)|Grace]].''<ref name=Moon> Moon, Tom. "Jeff Buckley." ''The New Rolling Stone Album Guide.'' New York: Simon and Schuster. 2004. ISBN 0743201998.</ref>  
 
Emerging in the 1990s, Buckley impressed critics and audiences with his versatile and haunting vocals. Known for his ethereal singing voice and natural [[vibrato]], Buckley was considered to be one of the most promising artists of his generation after the release of a rough EP entitled ''[[Live at Sin-é]],'' followed by his critically acclaimed [[1994]] debut album ''[[Grace (album)|Grace]].''<ref name=Moon> Moon, Tom. "Jeff Buckley." ''The New Rolling Stone Album Guide.'' New York: Simon and Schuster. 2004. ISBN 0743201998.</ref>  
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===Early life===
 
===Early life===
  
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By the time Jeff Buckley was born, his father had already left the family. Born in [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]], [[California]],<ref name="Browne2001p58"/> he was the only child of Mary Guibert and [[Tim Buckley]], high school sweethearts whose marriage survived only a year.<ref name=Browne> Browne, David. ''Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley.'' Harper Entertainment: New York. 2001, 2002. ISBN 0-380-80624-X.</ref>  
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By the time Jeff Buckley was born, his father had already left the family. Born in [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]], [[California]],<ref name=Browne> Browne, David. ''Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley.'' Harper Entertainment: New York. 2001, 2002. ISBN 0-380-80624-X.</ref> he was the only child of Mary Guibert and [[Tim Buckley]], high school sweethearts whose marriage survived only a year.<ref name=Browne> Browne, David. ''Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley.'' Harper Entertainment: New York. 2001, 2002. ISBN 0-380-80624-X.</ref>  
  
 
His mother was a [[Zonian|Panama Canal Zonian]] of mixed [[Greek people|Greek]], [[French people|French]], American and [[Panama]]nian descent,<ref>Kane (1998, 1999), "[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/rfuller/buckley/faq/03ethnic.html Ethnic Background]". Retrieved on [[September 4]], [[2006]].</ref> while his father was the descendant of [[Irish people|Irish]] [[immigrant]]s from [[Cork (city)|Cork]].<ref>Browne (2001), p. 16</ref>  
 
His mother was a [[Zonian|Panama Canal Zonian]] of mixed [[Greek people|Greek]], [[French people|French]], American and [[Panama]]nian descent,<ref>Kane (1998, 1999), "[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/rfuller/buckley/faq/03ethnic.html Ethnic Background]". Retrieved on [[September 4]], [[2006]].</ref> while his father was the descendant of [[Irish people|Irish]] [[immigrant]]s from [[Cork (city)|Cork]].<ref>Browne (2001), p. 16</ref>  
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While growing up, Jeff Buckley went by the name Scott "Scotty" Moorhead based on his middle name and his stepfather's [[surname]]. After his father died, he chose to go by Buckley and his real first name which he found on a birth certificate.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 68</ref> His family members continued to affectionately call him "Scotty".<ref>Kane (1998, 1999), "[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/rfuller/buckley/faq/02name.html Scott Moorhead = Jeff Buckley]". Retrieved on [[February 11]], [[2007]].</ref>
 
While growing up, Jeff Buckley went by the name Scott "Scotty" Moorhead based on his middle name and his stepfather's [[surname]]. After his father died, he chose to go by Buckley and his real first name which he found on a birth certificate.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 68</ref> His family members continued to affectionately call him "Scotty".<ref>Kane (1998, 1999), "[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/rfuller/buckley/faq/02name.html Scott Moorhead = Jeff Buckley]". Retrieved on [[February 11]], [[2007]].</ref>
  
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As a child, Buckley sang around the house and harmonized with his mother<ref>Rogers, Ray (February, 1994). "[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/rfuller/buckley/words/interviews/interviewmag0294.html Jeff Buckley: Heir Apparent to ...]". ''Interview Magazine''. Retrieved on [[February 11]], [[2007]].</ref>, who was a classically trained pianist and cellist.<ref name="TributeProgram">(April 26, 1991). "[http://www.huntingbears.net/buckley/stannstimtrib.htm Greetings from Tim Buckley program]". ''St. Ann's Church''. Retrieved on [[February 11]], [[2007]].</ref>  At the age of six, he found an acoustic guitar in his grandmother's closet, which he began learning to play on, and at the age of 12, he decided to become a musician.<ref name=Browne> Browne, David. ''Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley.'' Harper Entertainment: New York. 2001, 2002. ISBN 0-380-80624-X.</ref> He received his first electric guitar at the age of 13.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 67</ref>  
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As a child, Buckley sang around the house and harmonized with his mother<ref>Rogers, Ray (February, 1994). "[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/rfuller/buckley/words/interviews/interviewmag0294.html Jeff Buckley: Heir Apparent to ...]". ''Interview Magazine''. Retrieved on [[February 11]], [[2007]].</ref>, who was a classically trained pianist and cellist.<ref name="TributeProgram">(April 26, 1991). "[http://www.huntingbears.net/buckley/stannstimtrib.htm Greetings from Tim Buckley program]". ''St. Ann's Church''. Retrieved on [[February 11]], [[2007]].</ref>  At the age of six, he found an acoustic guitar in his grandmother's closet, which he began learning to play on, and at the age of 12, he decided to become a musician.<ref name="TheSonAlsoRises"/> He received his first electric guitar at the age of 13.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 67</ref>  
 
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After graduating from high school in 1984, he attended the [[Musicians Institute]] in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles, California|Hollywood]] <ref>Browne (2001), p. 95</ref>, where he graduated from the one-year course at the age of 18.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 97</ref>  
 
After graduating from high school in 1984, he attended the [[Musicians Institute]] in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles, California|Hollywood]] <ref>Browne (2001), p. 95</ref>, where he graduated from the one-year course at the age of 18.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 97</ref>  
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Finding few opportunities to work as a musician<ref>Browne (2001), pp. 106-107</ref>, Buckley returned to [[Los Angeles]] in September when his father's former manager, [[Herb Cohen]], offered to help  him record his first [[Demo (music)|demo]] of original songs.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 108</ref> Buckley completed ''Babylon Dungeon Sessions'', a five song [[compact cassette|cassette]] that included the songs "[[Eternal Life]]" and "Unforgiven" (later titled "[[Last Goodbye]]"<ref name="bp205">Browne (2001), p. 205</ref>).<ref>Browne (2001), pp. 108-109</ref> Cohen and Buckley hoped to attract attention from the music industry with the demo tape.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 109</ref>
 
Finding few opportunities to work as a musician<ref>Browne (2001), pp. 106-107</ref>, Buckley returned to [[Los Angeles]] in September when his father's former manager, [[Herb Cohen]], offered to help  him record his first [[Demo (music)|demo]] of original songs.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 108</ref> Buckley completed ''Babylon Dungeon Sessions'', a five song [[compact cassette|cassette]] that included the songs "[[Eternal Life]]" and "Unforgiven" (later titled "[[Last Goodbye]]"<ref name="bp205">Browne (2001), p. 205</ref>).<ref>Browne (2001), pp. 108-109</ref> Cohen and Buckley hoped to attract attention from the music industry with the demo tape.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 109</ref>
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"I want the idea and the sound of the idea to intoxicate— not the voltage"<ref name=Dodd>Dodd, Phillip. 2005.''The Book of Rock: From the 1950s to Today.'' New York: Thunder Mouth Press. ISBN 156025729 </ref>
 
  
 
====Public Singing Debut====
 
====Public Singing Debut====
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====Increasing Fame====
 
====Increasing Fame====
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On subsequent trips to New York in the summer of 1991, Buckley began co-writing with Gary Lucas resulting in the songs "[[Grace (song)|Grace]]" and "[[Mojo Pin]]",<ref>Browne (2001), pp. 140-141</ref>. In the [[fall]], he began performing with Lucas' band [[Gods and Monsters (band)|Gods and Monsters]] around New York City but decided to leave the band in March of 1992.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 146</ref>
  
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On subsequent trips to New York in the summer of 1991, Buckley began co-writing with Gary Lucas resulting in the songs "[[Grace (song)|Grace]]" and "[[Mojo Pin]]",<ref>Browne (2001), pp. 140-141</ref>. In the [[fall]], he began performing with Lucas' band [[Gods and Monsters (band)|Gods and Monsters]] around New York City.<ref>Kane (1998, 1999) but decided to leave the band in March of 1992.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 146</ref>
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Buckley began singing and playing guitar at several clubs and cafés around [[Lower Manhattan]],<ref>"Testa, Jim. (1993).  [http://www.jeffbuckley.com/rfuller/buckley/words/features/njbeat.html Making It In New York: Jeff Buckley]". ''New Jersey Beat Magazine''. Retrieved on [[February 11]], [[2007]].</ref> but [[Sin-é]] in the [[East Village, Manhattan|East Village]] became his main venue.<ref name=Browne> Browne, David. ''Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley.'' Harper Entertainment: New York. 2001, 2002. ISBN 0-380-80624-X.</ref> Buckley first appeared at the small Irish café in April 1992,<ref name="bp165">Browne (2001), p. 165</ref> and quickly earned a regular Monday night slot there.<ref name="bp167">Browne (2001), p. 167</ref> His repertoire consisted of a diverse range of [[Folk music|folk]], [[Rock music|rock]], [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]], [[blues]] and [[jazz]] [[cover song]]s, much of it music he had newly learned.<ref name="bp166">Browne (2001), p. 166</ref> In addition to the covers,he played original songs from ''Babylon Dungeon Sessions'' and the songs he'd written with Gary Lucas.<ref name="bp166" />  
  
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Buckley began singing and playing guitar at several clubs and cafés around [[Lower Manhattan]],<ref>"Testa, Jim. (1993).  [http://www.jeffbuckley.com/rfuller/buckley/words/features/njbeat.html Making It In New York: Jeff Buckley]". ''New Jersey Beat Magazine''. Retrieved on [[February 11]], [[2007]].</ref> but [[Sin-é]] in the [[East Village, Manhattan|East Village]] became his main venue.<ref name="TheArrivalof" />  Buckley first appeared at the small Irish café in April 1992,<ref name="bp165">Browne (2001), p. 165</ref> and quickly earned a regular Monday night slot there.<ref name="bp167">Browne (2001), p. 167</ref> His repertoire consisted of a diverse range of [[Folk music|folk]], [[Rock music|rock]], [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]], [[blues]] and [[jazz]] [[cover song]]s, much of it music he had newly learned.<ref name="bp166">Browne (2001), p. 166</ref> In addition to the covers,he played original songs from ''Babylon Dungeon Sessions'' and the songs he'd written with Gary Lucas.<ref name="bp166" />
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"I figured if I played in the no-man's land of intimacy, I would learn to be a performer,"<ref name="TheUnmadeStar"/> Buckley said. Of his own music, he commented, "I want the idea and the sound of the idea to intoxicate— not the voltage"<ref name=Dodd>Dodd, Phillip. 2005.''The Book of Rock: From the 1950s to Today.'' New York: Thunder Mouth Press. ISBN 156025729 </ref>
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"I figured if I played in the no-man's land of intimacy, I would learn to be a performer,"<ref name="TheUnmadeStar"/> Buckley said. Of his own music, he commented
 
  
 
Over the next few months, Buckley attracted admiring crowds and attention from [[record label]] executives.<ref>Browne (2001), pp. 170-171</ref> Buckley signed with [[Columbia Records]], home of [[Bob Dylan]] and [[Bruce Springsteen]],<ref>Browne (2001), p. 174</ref> for a three-album, essentially million-dollar<ref>Browne (2001), p. 173</ref> deal in October 1992.<ref>Browne (2001), pp. 177-179</ref> Recording dates were set for July and August 1993 for what would become Buckley's recording debut, an [[Extended play|EP]] of four songs.<ref>Browne (2001), pp. 199-200</ref> ''[[Live at Sin-é]]'' was released on [[November 23]],  [[1993]], documenting this period of Buckley's life.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 223</ref>
 
Over the next few months, Buckley attracted admiring crowds and attention from [[record label]] executives.<ref>Browne (2001), pp. 170-171</ref> Buckley signed with [[Columbia Records]], home of [[Bob Dylan]] and [[Bruce Springsteen]],<ref>Browne (2001), p. 174</ref> for a three-album, essentially million-dollar<ref>Browne (2001), p. 173</ref> deal in October 1992.<ref>Browne (2001), pp. 177-179</ref> Recording dates were set for July and August 1993 for what would become Buckley's recording debut, an [[Extended play|EP]] of four songs.<ref>Browne (2001), pp. 199-200</ref> ''[[Live at Sin-é]]'' was released on [[November 23]],  [[1993]], documenting this period of Buckley's life.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 223</ref>
  
 
===''Grace''===
 
===''Grace''===
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In the summer of [[1993]], Jeff Buckley began working on his first album with [[record producer]] [[Andy Wallace (producer)|Andy Wallace]],<ref>Browne (2001), p. 202</ref> who had [[Audio mixing|mixed]] [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana's]] [[RIAA certification|multi-platinum]] album ''[[Nevermind]]''.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 201</ref> Buckley assembled a band, comprised of [[bassist]] [[Mick Grondahl]] and [[drummer]] [[Matt Johnson (drummer)|Matt Johnson]],<ref>Browne (2001), pp. 202-203</ref> and spent several weeks rehearsing.<ref>(August 23, 1994). "[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/album.asp?SecID=2#info Grace album info]". ''Sony Music Entertainment Inc''. Retrieved on [[February 12]], [[2007]].</ref> In September, the [[trio (music)|trio]] headed to [[Bearsville Studios]] in [[Woodstock (town), New York|Woodstock, New York]] to spend 6 weeks recording  basic tracks for what would become ''[[Grace (album)|Grace]]''.<ref>Browne (2001), pp. 204-208</ref> Buckley invited ex-bandmate Lucas to play guitar on the songs "[[Grace (song)|Grace]]" and "[[Mojo Pin]]", and Woodstock-based jazz musician [[Karl Berger]] wrote and conducted string arrangements with Buckley assisting at times.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 206</ref> Buckley returned home for [[overdubbing]] at studios in [[Manhattan]] and [[New Jersey]] where he performed [[take]] after take to capture the perfect vocals and experimented with ideas for additional instruments and added textures to the songs.<ref>Browne (2001), pp. 224-225</ref>
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After assembling a band, comprised of [[bassist]] [[Mick Grondahl]] and [[drummer]] [[Matt Johnson (drummer)|Matt Johnson]],<ref>Browne (2001), pp. 202-203</ref>, Buckley began working on his first album in September 1993 in[[Bearsville Studios]] in [[Woodstock (town), New York|Woodstock, New York]]. They spent 6 weeks recording  basic tracks for what would become ''[[Grace (album)|Grace]]''.<ref>Browne (2001), pp. 204-208</ref> Buckley invited ex-bandmate Lucas to play guitar on the songs "[[Grace (song)|Grace]]" and "[[Mojo Pin]]", and Woodstock-based jazz musician [[Karl Berger]] wrote and conducted string arrangements with Buckley assisting at times.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 206</ref>  
  
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In January [[1994]], Buckley left to go on his first solo [[North America]]n tour to support ''[[Live at Sin-é]]''.<ref name="bp224-225">Browne (2001), pp. 225-226</ref> It was followed by a quick 10 day [[Europe]]an tour in March.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 230</ref> Buckley played clubs and coffeehouses and made in-store appearances.<ref name="bp224-225" /> After returning, Buckley invited guitarist [[Michael Tighe]] to join the band.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 227</ref> Buckley co-wrote "[[So Real (Jeff Buckley song)|So Real]]" with Tighe, recorded as a late addition to the album.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 228</ref> In June, Buckley began his first full band tour called the "Peyote Radio Theatre Tour" that lasted into August.<ref name="Jeffbuckley.comBio">"[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/bio.asp jeffbuckley.com biography]". ''[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/  jeffbuckley.com]''. Retrieved on [[February 12]], [[2007]].</ref> [[The Pretenders|Pretender]] [[Chrissie Hynde]],<ref>Browne (2001), p. 231</ref> [[Soundgarden|Soundgarden's]] [[Chris Cornell]], and [[The Edge]] from [[U2]]<ref>Browne (2001), p. 251</ref> were among the attendees of these early shows.
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Buckley returned home for [[overdubbing]] at studios in [[Manhattan]] and [[New Jersey]] where he painstakingly performed [[take]] after take to capture the perfect vocals, experimenting with ideas for additional instruments and added textures to the songs.<ref>Browne (2001), pp. 224-225</ref>
  
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''[[Grace (album)|Grace]]'' was released on [[August 23]], [[1994]]. In addition to seven original songs, the album included three covers: "[[Lilac Wine]]", based on [[Nina Simone|Nina Simone's]] version,<ref name="bp166"/> "[[Corpus Christi Carol]]", a [[Benjamin Britten]] composition based on a [[15th century]] hymn that Buckley was introduced to in high school,<ref>Browne (2001), p. 75</ref> and [[Leonard Cohen|Leonard Cohen's]] "[[Hallelujah (song)|Hallelujah]]", based on [[John Cale|John Cale's]] recording from the Cohen tribute album, ''[[I'm Your Fan]]''.<ref name="bp166" /> Buckley's rendition of "Hallelujah" has been called "Buckley's best" and "one of the great songs"<ref>Tyrangiel, Josh (December 12, 2004). "[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1006590,00.html Keeping Up the Ghost]". ''Time''. Retrieved on [[January 24]], [[2007]].</ref> by ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine and is included on ''[[Rolling Stone|Rolling Stone's]]'' list of "[[The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]".<ref>(December 9, 2004) "[http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/3 The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time]". ''[http://www.rollingstone.com/ rollingstone.com]''. Retrieved on [[February 11]], [[2007]].</ref>
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In January 1994, Buckley left to go on his first solo [[North America]]n tour to support ''[[Live at Sin-é]]''.<ref name="bp224-225">Browne (2001), pp. 225-226</ref> It was followed by a short 10 day [[Europe]]an tour in March,<ref>Browne (2001), p. 230</ref> where he played at clubs and coffeehouses and made in-store appearances.<ref name="bp224-225" />  
  
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While sales were slow and the album garnered little radio airplay, it did quickly receive critical acclaim.<ref>Irvin, Jim. (August 1997). "[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/rfuller/buckley/words/tributes/itsneverover.html It's Never Over: Jeff Buckley 1966-1997]". ''Mojo''. Retrieved on [[February 11]], [[2007]].</ref> The [[United Kingdom|UK's]] ''[[Melody Maker]]'' called it, "a massive, gorgeous record,"<ref>Parkes, Taylor. (August 13, 1994). "[http://www.mojopin.org/pages/album_reviews.php#melody Grace Review]". ''Melody Maker.'' Retrieved on [[February 11]], [[2007]].</ref> while ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'' proclaimed it, "almost impossibly beautiful."<ref>Danielsen, Shane. (October 1994). "[http://gilliver.net/music/buckley/reviews/smh.html You read it here - album of the year]". ''Sydney Morning Herald''. Retrieved on [[February 13]], [[2007]].</ref> The album did go [[Music recording sales certification|gold]] in France and Australia over the next two years,<ref name="Jeffbuckley.comBio" /> eventually achieving gold status in the [[United States|U.S.]] in 2002.<ref>(December 4, 2002). "[http://www.riaa.com/news/newsletter/120602.asp Rock of Ages]'. ''[http://www.riaa.com Recording Industry Association of America]''. Retrieved on [[February 12]], [[2007]].</ref> ''Grace'' has now sold over 2 million albums worldwide<ref>[http://wttsfm.com/buckleylegacy.htm]</ref><ref>[http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=4006080]</ref> and has gone platinum in Australia over six times
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After returning, Buckley invited guitarist [[Michael Tighe]] to join the band.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 227</ref> Buckley co-wrote "[[So Real (Jeff Buckley song)|So Real]]" with Tighe, recorded as a late addition to the album.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 228</ref> In June, Buckley began his first full band tour called the "Peyote Radio Theatre Tour" that lasted into August.<ref name="Jeffbuckley.comBio">"[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/bio.asp jeffbuckley.com biography]". ''[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/  jeffbuckley.com]''. Retrieved on [[February 12]], [[2007]].</ref>  
  
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''Grace'' won appreciation from a host of revered musicians. Included were members of Buckley's biggest influence, Led Zeppelin.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 10</ref> [[Jimmy Page]] considered ''Grace'' close to being his, "favorite album of the decade."<ref>Cross, Serena (Director). (2002). [http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0351127/ Jeff Buckley: Everybody Here Wants You] [Television Documentary]. UK: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).</ref>
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''[[Grace (album)|Grace]]'' was released on [[August 23]], [[1994]], including seven original songs and three covers. Buckley's rendition of "Hallelujah," a [[Leonard Cohen]] cover  is included on ''[[Rolling Stone|Rolling Stone's]]'' list of "[[The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]".<ref>(December 9, 2004) "[http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/3 The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time]". ''[http://www.rollingstone.com/ rollingstone.com]''. Retrieved on [[February 11]], [[2007]].</ref>
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[[Robert Plant]] was also complimentary.<ref name="NOWmagazine">Hughes, Kim. (May-June, 1998) "[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/rfuller/buckley/words/interviews/nowmag.html Mother preserving Jeff Buckley's legacy]". ''NOW Magazine''. Retrieved on [[February 13]], [[2007]].</ref> Other of Buckley's influences<ref>Kane (1998, 1999), "[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/rfuller/buckley/faq/09influen.html Who were some of Jeff's influences?]". Retrieved on [[February 13]], [[2007]].</ref> lauded him: [[Bob Dylan]] named Buckley "one of the great songwriters of this decade,"<ref name=NOWmagazine/> [[David Bowie]] called ''Grace'', "one of the 10 albums he'd bring with him to a desert island."<ref name="VillageVoice">Flanagan, Bill. (June 10, 1997). "[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/rfuller/buckley/words/tributes/vv10jun97.html Jeff Buckley Missing, Presumed Dead]". ''Village Voice''. Retrieved on [[February 13]], [[2007]].</ref> [[Lou Reed]] expressed interest in working with him after seeing him perform.<ref name="VillageVoice"/> [[Paul McCartney]],<ref>Browne (2001), p. 6</ref> [[Thom Yorke]], [[Matthew Bellamy]], [[Chris Cornell]], [[Neil Peart]], [[U2]] and [[Elton John]] were  among others who have held Buckley's work in high esteem.
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While sales were slow and the album garnered little radio airplay, it did quickly receive critical acclaim.<ref>Irvin, Jim. (August 1997). "[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/rfuller/buckley/words/tributes/itsneverover.html It's Never Over: Jeff Buckley 1966-1997]". ''Mojo''. Retrieved on [[February 11]], [[2007]].</ref> The [[United Kingdom|UK's]] ''[[Melody Maker]]'' called it, "a massive, gorgeous record,"<ref>Parkes, Taylor. (August 13, 1994). "[http://www.mojopin.org/pages/album_reviews.php#melody Grace Review]". ''Melody Maker.'' Retrieved on [[February 11]], [[2007]].</ref> while ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'' proclaimed it, "almost impossibly beautiful."<ref>Danielsen, Shane. (October 1994). "[http://gilliver.net/music/buckley/reviews/smh.html You read it here - album of the year]". ''Sydney Morning Herald''. Retrieved on [[February 13]], [[2007]].</ref>  
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The album did go [[Music recording sales certification|gold]] in France and Australia over the next two years,<ref name="Jeffbuckley.comBio" /> eventually achieving gold status in the [[United States|U.S.]] in 2002.<ref>(December 4, 2002). "[http://www.riaa.com/news/newsletter/120602.asp Rock of Ages]'. ''[http://www.riaa.com Recording Industry Association of America]''. Retrieved on [[February 12]], [[2007]].</ref> ''Grace'' has now sold over 2 million albums worldwide<ref>[http://wttsfm.com/buckleylegacy.htm]</ref><ref>[http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=4006080]</ref> and has gone platinum in Australia over six times.
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''Grace'' won appreciation from a host of revered musicians. Included were members of Buckley's biggest influence, Led Zeppelin.<ref>Browne (2001), p. 10</ref>, and [[Bob Dylan]] named Buckley "one of the great songwriters of this decade,"<ref name=NOWmagazine/> [[Paul McCartney]],<ref>Browne (2001), p. 6</ref> [[Thom Yorke]], [[Matthew Bellamy]], [[Chris Cornell]], [[Neil Peart]], [[U2]] and [[Elton John]] were  among others who have held Buckley's work in high esteem.
  
 
===Concert tours===
 
===Concert tours===
 
Buckley spent much of the next year and a half [[concert|touring]] to promote ''Grace''. It seemed to be a tiring yet effective means for him to keep his independence from his record company, with which he had a strained relationship. From the album's release, he played in numerous countries, from [[Australia]], to the UK ([[Glastonbury Festival]] and the [[Meltdown Festival]] at the invitation of [[Elvis Costello]]<ref>Browne (2001), p. 266</ref>). In 1995 Buckley played a concert at the [[Paris Olympia]], a venue made famous by the French vocalist [[Édith Piaf]], that he considered the finest performance of his career. [[Sony]] has since released a live recording of that performance.
 
Buckley spent much of the next year and a half [[concert|touring]] to promote ''Grace''. It seemed to be a tiring yet effective means for him to keep his independence from his record company, with which he had a strained relationship. From the album's release, he played in numerous countries, from [[Australia]], to the UK ([[Glastonbury Festival]] and the [[Meltdown Festival]] at the invitation of [[Elvis Costello]]<ref>Browne (2001), p. 266</ref>). In 1995 Buckley played a concert at the [[Paris Olympia]], a venue made famous by the French vocalist [[Édith Piaf]], that he considered the finest performance of his career. [[Sony]] has since released a live recording of that performance.
  
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Buckley went on his "phantom solo tour" of cafés in the [[Northeastern United States|Northeast]] in December 1996, appearing under a series of aliases:  The Crackrobats, Possessed by Elves, Father Demo, Smackrobiotic, The Halfspeeds, Crit-Club, Topless America, Martha & the Nicotines, and A Puppet Show Named Julio.<ref>"[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/news.asp?id=10 jeffbuckley.com Past tour dates]". ''[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/ jeffbuckley.com]''. Retrieved on [[February 12]], [[2007]].</ref>
+
Afterwards, his venues shrank as he returned to playing bars and cafés as he once had before fame hit. Buckley went on his "phantom solo tour" of cafés in the [[Northeastern United States|Northeast]] in December 1996, appearing under a series of aliases:  The Crackrobats, Possessed by Elves, Father Demo, Smackrobiotic, The Halfspeeds, Crit-Club, Topless America, Martha & the Nicotines, and A Puppet Show Named Julio.<ref>"[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/news.asp?id=10 jeffbuckley.com Past tour dates]". ''[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/ jeffbuckley.com]''. Retrieved on [[February 12]], [[2007]].</ref>
 
By way of justification, Buckley posted a note on the Internet stating that he missed the anonymity of playing in cafes and local bars:
 
By way of justification, Buckley posted a note on the Internet stating that he missed the anonymity of playing in cafes and local bars:
  
Line 98: Line 98:
 
Much of the material from the tours of 1995 and 1996 was recorded, and has been released posthumously on albums such as ''Mystery White Boy'' and ''Live a l'Olympia''.
 
Much of the material from the tours of 1995 and 1996 was recorded, and has been released posthumously on albums such as ''Mystery White Boy'' and ''Live a l'Olympia''.
  
−
Buckley was an impassioned fan of [[Pakistan]]i [[Sufi]] musician [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]], and during his cafe days Buckley had often covered his songs. He interviewed Khan for ''[[Interview (magazine)|Interview]]'' magazine and wrote liner notes for Khan's ''The Supreme Collection'' compilation.
+
An impassioned fan of [[Pakistan]]i [[Sufi]] musician [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]], Buckley often covered his songs during his café tours.
  
 
===Death===
 
===Death===
−
After completing touring in 1996, Buckley started to write for a new album to be called ''My Sweetheart the Drunk''. In 1997 he moved to [[Memphis, Tennessee]], where he rented a [[shotgun house]] of which he was so fond he contacted the owner about the possibility of buying it.<ref>Browne, David. ''Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley''. HarperEntertainment. January, 2001. pg 1</ref> Buckley started recording [[demo (music)|demos]] on his own 4-track recorder. He went into the studio again, recruited a band, and plans for the new album looked hopeful.
+
After completing touring in 1996, Buckley started to write for a new album to be called ''My Sweetheart the Drunk''. In 1997 he moved to [[Memphis, Tennessee]], where he rented a [[shotgun house]] of which he was so fond he contacted the owner about the possibility of buying it.<ref>Browne, David. ''Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley''. Harper Entertainment. January, 2001. pg 1</ref> Buckley started recording [[demo (music)|demos]] on his own 4-track recorder. He went into the studio again, recruited a band, and plans for the new album looked hopeful.
  
−
On [[May 29]], [[1997]], as the band's plane touched down on the runway to join him in his Memphis studio, Buckley went swimming in [[Wolf River (Tennessee)|Wolf River Harbor]], a [[tributary]] of the [[Mississippi River]], while wearing steel-toed boots, all of his clothing, and singing along to a radio playing Led Zeppelin's "[[Whole Lotta Love]]". A roadie of Buckley's band, Keith Foti, remained ashore. After moving the radio and a guitar out of reach of the [[wake]] from a passing [[tugboat]], Foti looked up to see that Buckley was gone. Despite a determined rescue effort that night, Buckley remained missing, and the search was called off the following day due to heavy rain. 3 days later his body was spotted by a tourist on a riverboat marina and was brought ashore.
+
On [[May 29]], [[1997]], Buckley went for an evening swim in [[Wolf River (Tennessee)|Wolf River Harbor]], a [[tributary]] of the [[Mississippi River]], while wearing steel-toed boots, all of his clothing, and singing along to a radio playing Led Zeppelin's "[[Whole Lotta Love]]". A roadie of Buckley's band, Keith Foti, watched from the shore and cautioned him not to swim too far out.<ref name=Browne2001p351> Browne, David. ''Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley.'' Harper Entertainment: New York. 2001, 2002. ISBN 0-380-80624-X.</ref> Foti looked away for a few moments to move the radio and a guitar out of reach of the [[wake]] from a passing [[tugboat]]. When he looked up, Buckley was no where in sight. Despite a determined rescue effort that night, Buckley remained missing, and the search was called off the following day due to heavy rain. Three days later his body was spotted by a tourist on a riverboat marina and was brought ashore.
  
 
The biography ''[[Dream Brother]]'', written about him and his father, reveals that the night before his death Buckley reportedly admitted to several loved ones that he suffered from [[bipolar disorder]]. The autopsy confirmed that Buckley had taken no [[illegal drugs]] before his swim and a [[drug overdose]] was ruled out as the cause of death. He was 30 years old.
 
The biography ''[[Dream Brother]]'', written about him and his father, reveals that the night before his death Buckley reportedly admitted to several loved ones that he suffered from [[bipolar disorder]]. The autopsy confirmed that Buckley had taken no [[illegal drugs]] before his swim and a [[drug overdose]] was ruled out as the cause of death. He was 30 years old.
Line 112: Line 112:
 
After Buckley's death, a collection of demo recordings and a full length album he had been reworking for his second album were released as ''[[Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk]]'' - the compilation being overseen by [[Chris Cornell]]. Three other albums composed of live recordings have also been released, along with a live [[DVD]] of a performance in [[Chicago]]. A previously unreleased 1992 recording of "[[I Shall Be Released]]", sung by Buckley over the phone on live radio, was released on the album ''[[For New Orleans]]''.  
 
After Buckley's death, a collection of demo recordings and a full length album he had been reworking for his second album were released as ''[[Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk]]'' - the compilation being overseen by [[Chris Cornell]]. Three other albums composed of live recordings have also been released, along with a live [[DVD]] of a performance in [[Chicago]]. A previously unreleased 1992 recording of "[[I Shall Be Released]]", sung by Buckley over the phone on live radio, was released on the album ''[[For New Orleans]]''.  
  
−
Director [[Brian Jun]] has announced plans to make a film biography of Buckley, in cooperation with his mother. It is to be called ''Mystery White Boy'', and is scheduled for release in 2008. As of yet, no one has been cast in the role of Buckley. A separate project involving the book ''Dream Brother'' was allegedly canceled.<ref>{{cite news
+
Director [[Brian Jun]] has announced plans to make a film biography of Buckley, in cooperation with his mother. It is to be called ''Mystery White Boy'', and is scheduled for release in 2008. <ref>{{cite news
 
|url=http://www.kmnr.ca/2006/kMNR_v2006.124.htm
 
|url=http://www.kmnr.ca/2006/kMNR_v2006.124.htm
 
|title=How They've Gone from Bad to Worse
 
|title=How They've Gone from Bad to Worse
Line 227: Line 227:
 
<ref>[http://www.liquidgnome.com/JeffBuckley/lyrics.html Unreleased Songs]</ref>
 
<ref>[http://www.liquidgnome.com/JeffBuckley/lyrics.html Unreleased Songs]</ref>
  
−
==Tribute Concerts==
+
 
−
2007 marks the 10th anniversary of Jeff Buckley's death. His life and music will be celebrated globally between May and June, 2007.
 
−
There will be tributes in Australia, Belgium, Canada, United Kingdom, Iceland, Ireland, Macedonia, France and the USA.
 
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
Line 235: Line 233:
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
−
* Browne, David. ''Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley.'' HarperEntertainment. 2001, 2002. ISBN 0-380-80624-X  
+
* Browne, David. ''Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley.'' HarperEntertainment. 2001, 2002. ISBN 0-380-80624-X
−
* Kane, Rebecca. "[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/rfuller/buckley/faq/ Kingdom For A Kiss - The Jeff Buckley F.A.Q.]". 1998, 1999. Retrieved on [[February 9]], [[2007]].
+
* Dodd, Phillip. 2005.The Book of Rock: From the 1950s to Today. New York: Thunder Mouth Press. ISBN 156025729
−
* "[http://www.jeffbuckley.com/bio.asp jeffbuckley.com Biography]" Retrieved on [[February 9]], [[2007]].
+
* Moon, Tom. "Jeff Buckley." The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York: Simon and Schuster. 2004. ISBN 0743201998.
  
 
==Further reading==
 
==Further reading==
Line 260: Line 258:
 
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=4568 Jeff Buckley's memorial] at [[Find A Grave]]
 
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=4568 Jeff Buckley's memorial] at [[Find A Grave]]
 
* [http://brokendial.insidepulse.com/articles/68143 BrokenDial.com Exclusive Interview with Mary Guibert, Jeff Buckley's mother] - June 6, 2007
 
* [http://brokendial.insidepulse.com/articles/68143 BrokenDial.com Exclusive Interview with Mary Guibert, Jeff Buckley's mother] - June 6, 2007
−
 
+
*  [http://www.jeffbuckley.com/rfuller/buckley/faq/ Kingdom For A Kiss - The Jeff Buckley F.A.Q.] Kane, Rebecca. 1998, 1999. Retrieved on [[February 9]], [[2007]].
 +
* [http://www.jeffbuckley.com/bio.asp jeffbuckley.com Biography] Retrieved on [[February 9]], [[2007]].
 
{{Jeff Buckley}}
 
{{Jeff Buckley}}
  

Revision as of 21:49, 19 July 2007

Jeff Buckley
Buckley in 1995.
Buckley in 1995.
Background information
Birth name Jeffrey Scott Buckley
Born November 17, 1966
Origin Flag of United States Anaheim, California, USA
Died May 29 1997 (aged 30)
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Genre(s) Rock, Hard rock, Folk rock, Blues
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, poet
Instrument(s) Vocals, Guitar, Bass guitar, Harmonium, Organ, Drums, Dulcimer, Tabla, Sitar
Years active 1991 – 1997
Label(s) Columbia
Associated acts Tim Buckley, Gary Lucas, Inger Lorre, John Zorn, Rebecca Moore, Shinehead, Chris Cornell
Website www.jeffbuckley.com

Jeff Buckley (November 17, 1966 – May 29, 1997) was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist and the son of folk musician Tim Buckley.

Emerging in the 1990s, Buckley impressed critics and audiences with his versatile and haunting vocals. Known for his ethereal singing voice and natural vibrato, Buckley was considered to be one of the most promising artists of his generation after the release of a rough EP entitled Live at Sin-é, followed by his critically acclaimed 1994 debut album Grace.[1]

However, his blossoming career was tragically cut short when Buckley died in a drowning accident in 1997 at the age of 30.

Buckley remains to be an influential and iconic figure in music. In 1998, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for his song "Everybody Here Wants You."[2], and in 2000, music television station VH1 included Buckley's album Grace in the "100 Greatest Albums of Rock and Roll," ranked at 73.[3]


Biography

Early life

By the time Jeff Buckley was born, his father had already left the family. Born in Anaheim, California,[4] he was the only child of Mary Guibert and Tim Buckley, high school sweethearts whose marriage survived only a year.[4]

His mother was a Panama Canal Zonian of mixed Greek, French, American and Panamanian descent,[5] while his father was the descendant of Irish immigrants from Cork.[6]

His father was a singer-songwriter who released a series of highly acclaimed folk and jazz albums in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Buckley commented, "I never knew (my father)."[7] In 1975, when he was eight years old, Jeff spent a few days with Tim Buckley, but two months later, his father died of a drug overdose. He was 28 years old.[8]

Jeff Buckley was raised by his mother in Southern California. Ron Moorhead, his stepfather of only two years, was the first father figure in his life and the father of half-brother Corey Moorhead.[9] Buckley, brother Corey and his mother bounced around many times to different homes in and around Orange County.[10]

While growing up, Jeff Buckley went by the name Scott "Scotty" Moorhead based on his middle name and his stepfather's surname. After his father died, he chose to go by Buckley and his real first name which he found on a birth certificate.[11] His family members continued to affectionately call him "Scotty".[12]

As a child, Buckley sang around the house and harmonized with his mother[13], who was a classically trained pianist and cellist.[14] At the age of six, he found an acoustic guitar in his grandmother's closet, which he began learning to play on, and at the age of 12, he decided to become a musician.[4] He received his first electric guitar at the age of 13.[15]

After graduating from high school in 1984, he attended the Musicians Institute in Hollywood [16], where he graduated from the one-year course at the age of 18.[17]

In the following six years, Buckley played guitar and did backing vocals for several struggling bands, spanning a diverse range of styles from jazz, reggae, and roots rock to heavy metal;[18] He also toured with the dancehall reggae artist Shinehead.[19]

Early career

Following his father's footsteps, Buckley moved to New York City in February 1990. [20] Over 20 years before, Tim Buckley had also ventured to New York in hopes of furthering his music career.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many

Jeff Buckley was introduced to Qawwali, the devotional music of India and Pakistan, and to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, one of its most well-known singers.[21] Buckley became a great admirer of Khan.[22] Blues-legend Robert Johnson and hardcore punk also became his special interests during this time[14], further diversifying his influences.

Finding few opportunities to work as a musician[23], Buckley returned to Los Angeles in September when his father's former manager, Herb Cohen, offered to help him record his first demo of original songs.[24] Buckley completed Babylon Dungeon Sessions, a five song cassette that included the songs "Eternal Life" and "Unforgiven" (later titled "Last Goodbye"[25]).[26] Cohen and Buckley hoped to attract attention from the music industry with the demo tape.[27]

Public Singing Debut

The following spring, Buckley finally reached a turning point in his career when he performed at a tribute concert for his father called "Greetings from Tim Buckley".[28] The event, produced by show business veteran Hal Willner, was held at St. Ann's Church in Brooklyn, New York on April 26, 1991.[28] He performed "I Never Asked To Be Your Mountain", a song Tim Buckley wrote about an infant Jeff Buckley and his mother, accompanied by experimental rock guitarist Gary Lucas, who he would later co-write several songs with.[29] Buckley returned to the stage to play "Sefronia - The King's Chain", "Phantasmagoria in Two", and concluded the concert with "Once I Was" performed acoustically with an impromptu a cappella ending.[29] "He blew the whole place away,"[30] Willner recalled.

When questioned about that particular performance Buckley said, "It wasn't my work, it wasn't my life. But it bothered me that I hadn't been to his funeral, that I'd never been able to tell him anything. I used that show to pay my last respects."[31] Ironically, the concert proved to be his first step into the music industry that had eluded him for years.[32]

Increasing Fame

On subsequent trips to New York in the summer of 1991, Buckley began co-writing with Gary Lucas resulting in the songs "Grace" and "Mojo Pin",[33]. In the fall, he began performing with Lucas' band Gods and Monsters around New York City but decided to leave the band in March of 1992.[34]

Buckley began singing and playing guitar at several clubs and cafés around Lower Manhattan,[35] but Sin-é in the East Village became his main venue.[4] Buckley first appeared at the small Irish café in April 1992,[36] and quickly earned a regular Monday night slot there.[37] His repertoire consisted of a diverse range of folk, rock, R&B, blues and jazz cover songs, much of it music he had newly learned.[38] In addition to the covers,he played original songs from Babylon Dungeon Sessions and the songs he'd written with Gary Lucas.[38]

"I figured if I played in the no-man's land of intimacy, I would learn to be a performer,"[7] Buckley said. Of his own music, he commented, "I want the idea and the sound of the idea to intoxicate— not the voltage"[39]

Over the next few months, Buckley attracted admiring crowds and attention from record label executives.[40] Buckley signed with Columbia Records, home of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen,[41] for a three-album, essentially million-dollar[42] deal in October 1992.[43] Recording dates were set for July and August 1993 for what would become Buckley's recording debut, an EP of four songs.[44] Live at Sin-é was released on November 23, 1993, documenting this period of Buckley's life.[45]

Grace

After assembling a band, comprised of bassist Mick Grondahl and drummer Matt Johnson,[46], Buckley began working on his first album in September 1993 inBearsville Studios in Woodstock, New York. They spent 6 weeks recording basic tracks for what would become Grace.[47] Buckley invited ex-bandmate Lucas to play guitar on the songs "Grace" and "Mojo Pin", and Woodstock-based jazz musician Karl Berger wrote and conducted string arrangements with Buckley assisting at times.[48]

Buckley returned home for overdubbing at studios in Manhattan and New Jersey where he painstakingly performed take after take to capture the perfect vocals, experimenting with ideas for additional instruments and added textures to the songs.[49]

In January 1994, Buckley left to go on his first solo North American tour to support Live at Sin-é.[50] It was followed by a short 10 day European tour in March,[51] where he played at clubs and coffeehouses and made in-store appearances.[50]

After returning, Buckley invited guitarist Michael Tighe to join the band.[52] Buckley co-wrote "So Real" with Tighe, recorded as a late addition to the album.[53] In June, Buckley began his first full band tour called the "Peyote Radio Theatre Tour" that lasted into August.[54]

Grace was released on August 23, 1994, including seven original songs and three covers. Buckley's rendition of "Hallelujah," a Leonard Cohen cover is included on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[55]

While sales were slow and the album garnered little radio airplay, it did quickly receive critical acclaim.[56] The UK's Melody Maker called it, "a massive, gorgeous record,"[57] while The Sydney Morning Herald proclaimed it, "almost impossibly beautiful."[58]

The album did go gold in France and Australia over the next two years,[54] eventually achieving gold status in the U.S. in 2002.[59] Grace has now sold over 2 million albums worldwide[60][61] and has gone platinum in Australia over six times.

Grace won appreciation from a host of revered musicians. Included were members of Buckley's biggest influence, Led Zeppelin.[62], and Bob Dylan named Buckley "one of the great songwriters of this decade,"[63] Paul McCartney,[64] Thom Yorke, Matthew Bellamy, Chris Cornell, Neil Peart, U2 and Elton John were among others who have held Buckley's work in high esteem.

Concert tours

Buckley spent much of the next year and a half touring to promote Grace. It seemed to be a tiring yet effective means for him to keep his independence from his record company, with which he had a strained relationship. From the album's release, he played in numerous countries, from Australia, to the UK (Glastonbury Festival and the Meltdown Festival at the invitation of Elvis Costello[65]). In 1995 Buckley played a concert at the Paris Olympia, a venue made famous by the French vocalist Édith Piaf, that he considered the finest performance of his career. Sony has since released a live recording of that performance.

Afterwards, his venues shrank as he returned to playing bars and cafés as he once had before fame hit. Buckley went on his "phantom solo tour" of cafés in the Northeast in December 1996, appearing under a series of aliases: The Crackrobats, Possessed by Elves, Father Demo, Smackrobiotic, The Halfspeeds, Crit-Club, Topless America, Martha & the Nicotines, and A Puppet Show Named Julio.[66] By way of justification, Buckley posted a note on the Internet stating that he missed the anonymity of playing in cafes and local bars:

There was a time in my life not too long ago when I could show up in a cafe and simply do what I do, make music, learn from performing my music, explore what it means to me, i.e., have fun while I irritate and/or entertain an audience who don't know me or what I am about. In this situation I have that precious and irreplaceable luxury of failure, of risk, of surrender. I worked very hard to get this kind of thing together, this work forum. I loved it and then I missed it when it disappeared. All I am doing is reclaiming it.

Much of the material from the tours of 1995 and 1996 was recorded, and has been released posthumously on albums such as Mystery White Boy and Live a l'Olympia.

An impassioned fan of Pakistani Sufi musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Buckley often covered his songs during his café tours.

Death

After completing touring in 1996, Buckley started to write for a new album to be called My Sweetheart the Drunk. In 1997 he moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he rented a shotgun house of which he was so fond he contacted the owner about the possibility of buying it.[67] Buckley started recording demos on his own 4-track recorder. He went into the studio again, recruited a band, and plans for the new album looked hopeful.

On May 29, 1997, Buckley went for an evening swim in Wolf River Harbor, a tributary of the Mississippi River, while wearing steel-toed boots, all of his clothing, and singing along to a radio playing Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love". A roadie of Buckley's band, Keith Foti, watched from the shore and cautioned him not to swim too far out.[3] Foti looked away for a few moments to move the radio and a guitar out of reach of the wake from a passing tugboat. When he looked up, Buckley was no where in sight. Despite a determined rescue effort that night, Buckley remained missing, and the search was called off the following day due to heavy rain. Three days later his body was spotted by a tourist on a riverboat marina and was brought ashore.

The biography Dream Brother, written about him and his father, reveals that the night before his death Buckley reportedly admitted to several loved ones that he suffered from bipolar disorder. The autopsy confirmed that Buckley had taken no illegal drugs before his swim and a drug overdose was ruled out as the cause of death. He was 30 years old.

A recent statement from the Buckley estate insists:

Jeff Buckley's death was not "mysterious," related to drugs, alcohol, or suicide. We have a police report, a medical examiner's report, and an eye witness to prove that it was an accidental drowning, and that Mr. Buckley was in a good frame of mind prior to the accident.[68]

After Buckley's death, a collection of demo recordings and a full length album he had been reworking for his second album were released as Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk - the compilation being overseen by Chris Cornell. Three other albums composed of live recordings have also been released, along with a live DVD of a performance in Chicago. A previously unreleased 1992 recording of "I Shall Be Released", sung by Buckley over the phone on live radio, was released on the album For New Orleans.

Director Brian Jun has announced plans to make a film biography of Buckley, in cooperation with his mother. It is to be called Mystery White Boy, and is scheduled for release in 2008. [69]

Discography

Albums

Year Title Release Date
1993 Live at Sin-é November 23, 1993
1994 Grace August 23, 1994
1995 Live from the Bataclan [EP] October 1995
1998 Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk May 26, 1998
2000 Mystery White Boy May 9, 2000
2001 Live a L'Olympia July 3, 2001
2002 Songs to No One 1991-1992 October 15, 2002
2002 The Grace EPs November 26, 2002
2003 Live at Sin-é (Legacy Edition) September 2, 2003
2004 Grace (Legacy Edition) August 24, 2004
2007 So Real: Songs From Jeff Buckley May 22, 2007

Video

Year Title Release Date
2000 Live in Chicago May 9, 2000
2007 Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley TBA

Awards and nominations

  • Grammy Award nomination for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for "Everybody Here Wants You", 1998[2]
  • MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best New Artist in a Video for "Last Goodbye", 1995[2]
  • Rolling Stone Magazine nomination for Best New Artist, 1995
  • Triple J Hottest 100 awarded No. 14 best song for that year in the worlds largest voting competition for "Last Goodbye", 1995[70]

Samples

(audio)
"Hallelujah" (file info)
from Grace
"New Year's Prayer" (file info)
from Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk
"Grace (Live)" (file info)
from Live at Sin-é.
Problems listening to the files? See media help.


Documentaries


Unreleased Recordings

  • "All Flowers in Time Bend Towards the Sun"
  • "Dendrils of Death"
  • "Dido's Lament"
  • "Don't Listen to Anyone But Me"
  • "Edna Frau"
  • "Let's Bomb the Moonlight"
  • "Open Up and Bleed"
  • "Peace Offering"
  • "Pleasure Seeker"
  • "River of Dope"
  • "Sky Blue Skin"
  • "The Morning After"
  • "We All Fall in Love Sometimes"

[71]


Notes

  1. ↑ Moon, Tom. "Jeff Buckley." The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York: Simon and Schuster. 2004. ISBN 0743201998.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Every show, every winner, every nominee". envelope.com. Retrieved on March 1, 2007.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Browne, David. Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley. Harper Entertainment: New York. 2001, 2002. ISBN 0-380-80624-X.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Browne, David. Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley. Harper Entertainment: New York. 2001, 2002. ISBN 0-380-80624-X.
  5. ↑ Kane (1998, 1999), "Ethnic Background". Retrieved on September 4, 2006.
  6. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 16
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Browne, David (October 24, 1993). "The Unmade Star". The New York Times. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  8. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 11
  9. ↑ Browne (2001), pp. 62-63
  10. ↑ Vaziri, Aidin (1994), "Jeff Buckley". Raygun Magazine. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  11. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 68
  12. ↑ Kane (1998, 1999), "Scott Moorhead = Jeff Buckley". Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  13. ↑ Rogers, Ray (February, 1994). "Jeff Buckley: Heir Apparent to ...". Interview Magazine. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 (April 26, 1991). "Greetings from Tim Buckley program". St. Ann's Church. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  15. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 67
  16. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 95
  17. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 97
  18. ↑ Browne (2001), pp. 99-103
  19. ↑ Kane (1998, 1999), "What was his musical history?". Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  20. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 104
  21. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 106
  22. ↑ Young, Paul (1994). "Talking Music: Confessing to Strangers". Buzz Magazine. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  23. ↑ Browne (2001), pp. 106-107
  24. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 108
  25. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 205
  26. ↑ Browne (2001), pp. 108-109
  27. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 109
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Browne (2001), pp. 130-134
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Browne (2001), pp. 136-137
  30. ↑ Arcade, Penny (June 1997). "Manish boy, setting sun". Rolling Stone. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  31. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named TheSonAlsoRises
  32. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 138
  33. ↑ Browne (2001), pp. 140-141
  34. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 146
  35. ↑ "Testa, Jim. (1993). Making It In New York: Jeff Buckley". New Jersey Beat Magazine. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  36. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 165
  37. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 167
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Browne (2001), p. 166
  39. ↑ Dodd, Phillip. 2005.The Book of Rock: From the 1950s to Today. New York: Thunder Mouth Press. ISBN 156025729
  40. ↑ Browne (2001), pp. 170-171
  41. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 174
  42. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 173
  43. ↑ Browne (2001), pp. 177-179
  44. ↑ Browne (2001), pp. 199-200
  45. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 223
  46. ↑ Browne (2001), pp. 202-203
  47. ↑ Browne (2001), pp. 204-208
  48. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 206
  49. ↑ Browne (2001), pp. 224-225
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 Browne (2001), pp. 225-226
  51. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 230
  52. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 227
  53. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 228
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 "jeffbuckley.com biography". jeffbuckley.com. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  55. ↑ (December 9, 2004) "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". rollingstone.com. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  56. ↑ Irvin, Jim. (August 1997). "It's Never Over: Jeff Buckley 1966-1997". Mojo. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  57. ↑ Parkes, Taylor. (August 13, 1994). "Grace Review". Melody Maker. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  58. ↑ Danielsen, Shane. (October 1994). "You read it here - album of the year". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved on February 13, 2007.
  59. ↑ (December 4, 2002). "Rock of Ages'. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  60. ↑ [1]
  61. ↑ [2]
  62. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 10
  63. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named NOWmagazine
  64. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 6
  65. ↑ Browne (2001), p. 266
  66. ↑ "jeffbuckley.com Past tour dates". jeffbuckley.com. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
  67. ↑ Browne, David. Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley. Harper Entertainment. January, 2001. pg 1
  68. ↑ Statement from Jeff Buckley estate
  69. ↑ "How They've Gone from Bad to Worse", KMNR Music News Weekly, 29 June 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-04.
  70. ↑ "Hottest 100 - History - 1995". triple j radio. Retrieved on March 1, 2007.
  71. ↑ Unreleased Songs

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Browne, David. Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley. HarperEntertainment. 2001, 2002. ISBN 0-380-80624-X
  • Dodd, Phillip. 2005.The Book of Rock: From the 1950s to Today. New York: Thunder Mouth Press. ISBN 156025729
  • Moon, Tom. "Jeff Buckley." The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York: Simon and Schuster. 2004. ISBN 0743201998.

Further reading

  • Brooks, Daphne. Jeff Buckley's Grace. Continuum International Publishing Group. 2005. ISBN 0-8264-1635-7
  • Buckley, Jeff. Jeff Buckley Collection. Hal Leonard. 2002. ISBN 0-6340-2265-2
  • Cyr, Merri and Buckley, Jeff. Wished for Song: A Portrait of Jeff Buckley Hal Leonard. 2002. ISBN 0-6340-3595-9

External links

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Template:Jeff Buckley


Persondata
NAME Buckley, Jeff
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Buckley, Jeffrey Scott (birth name); Moorhead, Scotty (raised as)
SHORT DESCRIPTION Singer-songwriter and guitarist
DATE OF BIRTH November 17, 1966
PLACE OF BIRTH Anaheim, California
DATE OF DEATH May 29, 1997
PLACE OF DEATH Memphis, Tennessee

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