Jeff Buckley Bio: Life and Career of the Singer-Songwriter
Musical Beginnings
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Jeffrey Scott Buckley was born November 17th, 1966 in Anaheim, California to a musical family. Buckley was raised by his piano- and cello-playing mother and a classic rock-loving stepfather, after his own dad – cult folk and jazz singer Tim Buckley – left prior to his birth. The young Buckley picked up his first guitar at age five and later played in his high school jazz band.
Hollywood, New York City and Numerous Bands
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In his late teens, Buckley studied music in Hollywood and began singing backup and playing guitar for diverse bands. As success eluded him, Buckley tried his luck in New York City: after performing at a tribute concert for his late father, he had a brief stint with the band Gods and Monsters in the early ‘90s. Buckley then started performing covers and his own material at coffee shops and clubs. His sets incorporated musical styles like folk, jazz and rock, and were influenced by artists he had recently discovered.
Live at Sin-e
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It was thanks to his weekly residency at Sin-é café that people took notice of his singing and guitar playing. His budding fan base helped pique the interest of several labels and landed Buckley a contract with Columbia Records in 1992. The Live at Sin-é EP featured Buckley singing with an electric guitar, and it dropped the following year.
“Grace”
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Next, for his full-length debut, Buckley created a fuller sound by including drums, bass and string arrangements. Grace was unveiled in 1994, and – like his earlier work – that effort comprised both original material and cover songs. Most notable was Buckley’s version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” which later gained massive popularity and became known as one of the finest examples of the singer’s work. However, Grace was not a hit upon its release; in fact, it barely made a dent on the U.S. Billboard 200 and did not find radio popularity.
Touring and Success
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Those mixed reviews turned into praise after Buckley went on the road with his band over the next few years. While honing his vocal chops and impressing crowds, Buckley received accolades from well-respected artists and was awarded one of France’s highest musical honors. He even returned to Sin-é on occasion and spent time playing bass in another band.
Writing and Recording
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Buckley began writing and recording with his musicians for a follow-up album in 1996. When these sessions proved unfruitful, Buckley began working on his music alone. During this time, he did end up collaborating with Inger Lorre, and he contributed to an Edgar Allan Poe-inspired double disc.
New Material at Shows
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In early 1997, Buckley began performing some new songs. He eventually took up a weekly residency at Barrister’s Bar in Memphis, Tennessee and continued recording demos on the side.
Death
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Soon, Buckley was due to start rehearsals with his band. However, on May 29th, 1997, he decided to take an evening swim, and this proved to be a fatal decision: six days later, Jeff Buckley’s body was found in the Mississippi River. An autopsy later confirmed his cause of death to be accidental drowning. It was also found that Buckley was not under the influence of any substances when he died.
“(Sketches for) My Sweetheart the Drunk”
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The double album Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk was released the next year under the supervision of Buckley’s mother. The collection was well-received by critics, who found that its demos and almost-finished songs highlighted a variety of genres, as well as Buckley’s vocal range.
Posthumous Releases
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Other posthumous releases included the live albums Mystery White Boy and Live à L’Olympia, a collaborative compilation with Gary Lucas, and the deluxe limited edition of Grace Around the World. That project was accompanied by a Buckley tribute documentary, which set the stage for other Buckley-inspired films.
Re-emergence of “Grace”
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As the new millennium dawned, Buckley’s Grace achieved gold status in the U.S., and was expanded into a tenth anniversary Legacy Edition. His music also returned to the charts: after “Hallelujah” was covered by an “American Idol” contestant, Buckley’s rendition topped Billboard’s Hot Digital Songs.
Musical Legacy
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His voice and vision have already inspired many and will undoubtedly move scores more. Thanks to its use in various media, we’ll never have to say a last goodbye to Jeff Buckley or his music.
