Global InformationElliott Smith information
Elliott Smith | |
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 Smith performing in 2003 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Steven Paul Smith |
| Born | August 6, 1969 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Died | October 21, 2003 (aged 34) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Discography | Elliott Smith discography |
| Years active | 1985–2003 |
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| Formerly of | Heatmiser |
| Website | elliottsmith |
Steven Paul Smith (August 6, 1969 – October 21, 2003), known as Elliott Smith, was an American musician and singer-songwriter. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and lived much of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he gained popularity. Smith's primary instrument was the guitar, though he also played piano, clarinet, bass guitar, drums, and harmonica. He had a distinctive vocal style in his solo career after Heatmiser, characterized by his "whispery, spiderweb-thin delivery",[5] and often used multi-tracking to create vocal layers, textures, and harmonies that were usually finger picked and recorded with tape.
After playing in the rock band Heatmiser for several years, Smith began his solo career in 1994, with releases on the independent record labels Cavity Search and Kill Rock Stars (KRS). In 1997, he signed a contract with DreamWorks Records, for which he recorded his final two albums.[6] Smith rose to mainstream prominence when his song "Miss Misery"—included in the soundtrack for the film Good Will Hunting (1997)—was nominated for the 1998 Academy Award for Best Original Song.[7]
Smith was a heavy drinker and drug user, and was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression.[8] His struggles with drugs and mental illness affected his life and work, and often appeared in his lyrics. He died at his Los Angeles home from two stab wounds to the chest at age 34 in 2003.[9] The autopsy evidence did not determine whether the wounds were self-inflicted.[10] At the time of his death, Smith was working on his album From a Basement on the Hill, posthumously produced and released in 2004.
- ^ "CMJ's Top 30 Editorial Picks". CMJ New Music Report. New York City: CMJ Network, Inc. January 11, 1999. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
- ^ Hughes, Josiah (March 24, 2015). "Elliott Smith Doc 'Heaven Adores You' Gets Limited Theatrical Release". Exclaim!. Ian Danzig. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- ^ "Mr. Misery". Out. United States: Here Publishing. May 2000. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
- ^ Adam Brent Houghtaling (August 7, 2012). This Will End in Tears: The Miserabilist Guide to Music. HarperCollins. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-06-209896-2.
- ^ Huey, Steve. "Elliott Smith – Elliott Smith : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
- ^ Schreiber, Ryan (March 31, 2000). "Elliott Smith: Figure 8". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
- ^ Grant, Jess (November 9, 2011). "Elliott Smith – Miss Misery". BitCandy. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
- ^ "Unreleased Elliott Smith song he recorded when he was 14". faroutmagazine.co.uk. August 6, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ "Rocker's Autopsy Doesn't Rule Out Homicide". The Smoking Gun. January 8, 2004. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
- ^ Dansby, Andrew (December 31, 2003). "Smith Autopsy Inconclusive". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 8, 2015.