Jeff Buckley: The Legacy of a Timeless Cover and an Unforgettable Talent
Jeff Buckley was born in California under the name Jeff Scott Moorehead, using his stepfather’s surname and his own middle name. After his stepfather passed away, Buckley adopted his biological father’s name and dropped the “Scott.”
He attended the Musicians Institute, though he found the experience unsatisfying. After struggling in various bands, working as a session player for lesser-known artists, and doing sporadic studio work, Buckley moved to New York in 1990 at the age of 24.
In New York, he began performing as a solo artist, singing and playing guitar at clubs rather than supporting other musicians. This eventually led to a Monday night residency at Sin-é, a club in Lower Manhattan, where he mostly performed cover songs.
As his performances gained attention, A&R reps from various labels took notice, and soon after, Columbia Records signed him to a significant three-album deal.
His journey began with the release of a live EP, Live at Sin-é (1993), and he was soon sent on tour while simultaneously recording demos for his debut album.
Buckley’s only studio album, Grace, was recorded at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, New York, and released in 1994. Though it wasn’t an immediate success, the album slowly gained recognition, earning a place on many “best of” lists and receiving praise from artists such as David Bowie, who named it one of the 10 best albums of all time.
One of the standout tracks, Buckley’s haunting cover of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, is widely regarded as one of the greatest covers ever recorded.
In addition to his musical achievements, Buckley’s influence extended to other artists. After attending one of his gigs, Thom Yorke of Radiohead began experimenting with his falsetto more confidently, which contributed to the band’s new approach on Fake Plastic Trees. It’s clear that Buckley inspired many other musicians as well.
After three years of touring in support of Grace, Buckley returned to the studio to begin work on his follow-up album. Tragically, on May 29th, 1997, while in the midst of recording, he went for a swim in the Mississippi River and never resurfaced.
Jeff Buckley Tunes | Related Pages
Hallelujah | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley + Leonard Cohen using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| G5 | Em7 |
I heard there was a secret chord…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley + Leonard Cohen) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
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