Jeff Buckley

American musician, who emerged in the avant-garde club scene of the 1990s. The talented performer was often compared to his father, Tim Buckley, a 1960s musician who died at age 28 of a drug overdose.

Like his father, Jeff died young; on 29 May 1997, he drowned in a tragic accident in the Mississippi River near Memphis, Tennessee.

Born in 1966, Jeff never knew his father. He was raised by his mother, Mary Guibert, and his stepfather, Ron Moorhead, with a half-brother, Corey. He grew up as brother and sister to his stepfather’s children, Ann-Marie and Kevin.

As a child he was called Scotty Moorhead, although his birth certificate read "Jeffrey Scott Buckley." When he was about ten, he chose to use his legal name, in homage to his late father.

His childhood was full of music, and at 18, he moved to Los Angeles to study music for two years at the Musician’s Institute, an endeavor he later described as a ‘waste,’ although he made life-long friends there.

He participated in various jazz bands before relocating to New York City. Although not billed as a performer because he did not feel it was right to use the event as a career stepping-stone, his public debut occurred at a tribute performance for his father on 26 April 1991.

Signed by Columbia Records, he accompanied himself on electric guitar and released "Live at Sin-e" in November 1993. His 1994 release "Grace" received raves, and the artist with the ethereal voice and incredible four-octave vocal range began touring. Well-received in Europe, in 1995, he received France’s "Grand Prix International Du Disque" award.

A gifted composer, many of his fans describe his music as spiritual and moving; however, he stated he wasn’t allied with any organized religion. He added, "If you want divinity, the music in every human being and their love for music is pretty much it.