Author’s note: Information cited can be found on the official Jeff Buckley website.

History

Jeff Buckley was born in Anaheim, California on November 17, 1966 to Mary Guibert and folk-rock singer Tim Buckley. However, Buckley did not have a relationship with his father, as he had left before Jeff had been born. In 1994, he had stated that he had only met his father once, when he was eight years old, before his overdose in 1975. 

Despite his musician father being estranged, that did not stop Buckley from loving the world of music. He had found that love at a young age, and according to Buckley, this was a way he was able to fill the hole that his father’s absence left behind. 

This passion took Buckley places as he began gaining traction within the New York City avant-garde club scene in the early 1990s. Buckley had taken to small performances at events, coffeehouses and more to establish his presence in the industry. 

By 1993, Buckley had recorded and released his first commercial CD and released his EP “Live at Sin-é” in November. This had four tracks, including covers and original work, recorded at a small coffeehouse in New York City’s East Village. 

Concurrent with the release of this EP, Buckley had been in the studio with band members to produce his debut album. These members included Mick Grondahl, Matt Johnson and Michael Tighe; the latter became a permanent member of Buckley’s ensemble. 

In 1994, Buckley was continuing to perform in numerous clubs, lounges and coffeehouses.  Buckley and his band made stops across North America and even made brief appearances in Europe. 

Between touring, Buckley released his full-band full-length studio album “Grace” on August 23, 1994. Following its release, they kicked off the European leg of their 1994 tour before returning to the states to perform. 

Buckley’s first and only album includes seven original tracks and three covers, done both with his band and solo. His cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is one that is to be noted, though. Buckley became known amongst many for his rendition, particularly after his death. 

Following its release, “Grace” received countless awards. In 1995, France’s Académie Charles Cros bestowed upon it the prestigious Gran Prix International Du Disque. Additionally, it has received multiple gold record certificates from various countries, like Australia and France. 

Buckley was later tasked with finishing a second studio album, which left him and his band recording intermittently between New York City and Memphis in the summer and fall of 1996. In this time, Buckley remained in Memphis, separate from his band members, to continue his work. 

In addition to creating new renditions of old songs and creating new compositions to present his band with, Buckley was regularly performing. Every Monday night he was scheduled to hold solo performances at Barrister’s Bar in Memphis. 

However, Buckley played his last scheduled show on May 26, 1997, at Barrister’s. After reports of him wading into the Mississippi River, Buckley tragically died in a drowning accident on May 29. It is believed that he was washed away and his death was confirmed on June 4, 1997. 

Following his death, what would have been Buckley’s second album, “Sketches for My Sweetheart The Drunk,” was released on May 26, 1998. However, it should not be considered a completed studio album, as it is said that Buckley was not completely happy with its rendition and was still working on improvements at the time of his death. 

Even after his passing, Buckley continues to be incredibly influential to this day. There are many bands and solo artists who attribute Buckley and his work as a source of inspiration. Most notable are big names such as Radiohead, Adele, Lana Del Ray, Phoebe Bridgers, Coldplay and more. 

Additionally, Buckley has been acknowledged numerous times by Rolling Stones Magazine regarding his impact. This includes being nominated as best new artist and being ranked within the 100 greatest singers of all time, the 500 greatest albums of all time, the 500 greatest songs of all time, the best 100 albums of the 1990s and even the 100 best debut albums numerous times. 

Discography: “Live at Sin-é” (1993);  “Grace” (1994); “Sketches for My Sweetheart The Drunk” (1998) and more.