Jeff Buckley was imbued with a love of music by his mother and credits the first album he ever owned, Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin, as coming from his step-father. After a childhood that was inundated with music, Jeff moved to Los Angeles when he was eighteen. While in LA, Jeff graduated from the Musicians' Institute's two-year course. Jeff often described his time at the Institute a "waste," yet he made some life-long friends there. Jeff's diverse musical background was reflected in the bands in which he participated before going solo. In LA, he was in the reggae band Shinehead. Jeff moved to New York in 1990. Jeff met guitar legend Gary Lucas when Hal Wilner had arranged for them to perform together at Saint Ann's Church at the tribute for Tim Buckley in April 1991. Shortly thereafter, Lucas invited Jeff to join his band Gods and Monsters. Jeff left Gods and Monsters in 1992, after only a couple performances. He then took to performing solo shows in small cafes in New York City. Jeff's most notable and abundant performances were at Sin-�, an "Irish joint" on St. Mark's Place in the East Village. He did mostly covers to hone his skills and confidence in performing. Jeff was discovered by Columbia executives while performing at Sin-�. In October of 1992, Jeff signed a contract to record with Columbia Records.
Jeff Buckley had an ethereal voice and an incredible vocal range. He was a tenor capable of reaching a falsetto pitch. A tenor's range in the bass clef spans middle C to high F. Jeff's actual range was four octaves. Jeff's vocal style was significantly influenced by Mahalia Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald, Robert Plant, and Freddie Mercury. Jeff was also an enthusiastic admirer of Nusrat Ali Fateh Ali Khan
The original members that formed Jeff Buckley's band ("The Three M's," as he lovingly referred to them) were Mick Grondahl on bass, Matt Johnson behind the drum kit, and Michael Tighe playing rhythm guitar. Jeff met Mick Grondahl after performing at the Post Crypt Cafe at Columbia University in New York. A musical relationship formed after jamming together late into the night.
Drummer Matt Johnson and Jeff had done the music for "Dream Brother" the first time they met without really knowing each other, but it just "clicked. Matt Johnson left the band after the final date of the Australian "Hard Luck Tour" in March of 1996. An actor in his own right, Michael Tighe had not been in a band before he auditioned for the slot of a second guitarist for the Grace tour. Michael's acting work can be seen in the 1994 movie Postcards from America, along with his little brother Olmo Tighe. Michael ended up writing the guitar line that spurred "So Real," which was recorded in Los Angeles while on tour. Recently, Michael has appeared in theatrical performances in NYC. Parker Kindred debuted as the band's new drummer in his only live performance with the band at Arlene Grocery, New York on February 9th, 1997. Parker did, however lay down most of the drum tracks for the Verlaine sessions for My Sweetheart the Drunk in early 1997. Eric Eidel contributed drums on "The Sky Is A Landfill," "Morning Theft," and "Vancouver."
Jeffrey Scott Buckley's life began on November 17th, 1966 when he was born at Martin Luther Hospital in Anaheim, California.
He was the only son of Mary Guibert and Tim Buckley. Jeff was raised by his mother and step-father Ron Moorhead in southern California, in and around Orange County. Jeff has a half-brother Corey Moorhead. Also, Ron's stepchildren from his second marriage (after he divorced Jeff's mom), Ann-Marie Huck and Kevin Smith grew up closely to Jeff and Corey, and were very much brother and sister to Mary's two boys. Tragically, Jeff died in a swimming accident on May 29th, 1997 while in Memphis, Tennessee to record the follow-up album to Grace. He was swept away by the undertow of a passing boat while swimming in the Wolfe River, a tributary of the Mississippi River
His musical history
Jeff's vocal style and range
The members of Jeff's band