(b. 17 Nov 1966, d. 29 May 1997)

Since he was the son of cult songwriter Tim Buckley, Jeff Buckley faced more expectations and pre-conceived notions than most singer/songwriters. Buckley began playing as a high school student in New York. Eventually, he moved to Los Angeles to study music; while he was there, he performed with several jazz and funk bands, as well as playing with Shinehead, a leader in the dancehall reggae movement.  Buckley began a solo career playing clubs and coffeehouses, building up a considerable following. Soon, he signed a record deal with Columbia Records, releasing the Live at Sin-e EP in November of 1993.  It received good reviews, yet they didn’t compare to the raves Buckley’s full-length debut, 1994’s Grace, received.
On the night of May 29, he and a friend traveled to the local Mud Island Harbor, where Buckley spontaneously decided to go swimming in the Mississippi River and leaped into the water fully- clothed.  A few minutes later,  he disappeared under the waves; authorities were quickly contacted,  but to no avail — on June 4, his body was finally found floating near the city’s famed Beale Street area.  ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All-Music Guide