Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and lived much of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity. Smith's primary instrument was the guitar, though he also played piano, clarinet, bass guitar, drums, and harmonica. Smith had a distinctive vocal style, characterized by his "whispery, spiderweb-thin delivery", and often used multi-tracking to create vocal layers, textures, and harmonies. 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. In 1997, he signed a contract with DreamWorks Records, for which he recorded two albums. Smith rose to mainstream prominence when his song "Miss Misery"âincluded in the soundtrack for the film Good Will Huntingâwas nominated for an Oscar in the Best Original Song category in 1998.
| Birth name: | Steven Paul Smith |
| Born: | August 6, 1969, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Died: | October 21, 2003, Echo Park, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres: | Indie folk, indie pop, indie rock, lo-fi |
| Occupation(s): | Musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist |
| Instruments: | Guitar, vocals, piano, clarinet, bass, drums, harmonica |
| Years active: | 1991â2003 |
| Labels: | Virgin/Caroline, Cavity Search, Kill Rock Stars, Suicide Squeeze Records, DreamWorks, ANTI, Domino |
| Associated acts: | Heatmiser, Quasi, Mary Lou Lord, Pete Krebs, No. 2, Beck |
| Website: | Elliott Smith's Official site |
| IMDb: | Elliott Smith's IMDb |
About Elliott Smith
Singer and guitarist who wrote "Needle in the Hay" and who was nominated for an Oscar Award for Best Original Song in a film in 1998.
Before Fame
He grew up with an abusive stepfather; the effects of this trauma bleeding over into his song lyrics.
Achievement
He used a recording method called "multi-tracking," which allowed for him to create layering in his music.
Family Life
He was born to Gary Smith and Bunny Kay Berryman and had a sister named Ashley Welch. His partner Jennifer Chiba was supposedly in the shower when he allegedly stabbed himself twice in the chest. Although autopsy reports left open the possibility of homicide, an investigation was not opened.
Associations
He appeared as a guest on The Late Night Show with Conan O'Brien, performing "Miss Misery."
Information related to Elliott Smith
- Good Will Hunting - Good Will Hunting is a 1997 American drama film directed by Gus Van Sant, and starring Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver, and Stellan SkarsgĂĽrd.
- Cavity Search Records artists
- Songwriters from Nebraska
- Anti- Records artists
- Kill Rock Stars artists
- Lincoln High School (Portland, Oregon) alumni
- DreamWorks Records artists
- Suicide Squeeze Records artists
- Caroline Records artists
- Domino Recording Company artists
- Musicians from Omaha, Nebraska
- People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- People with mood disorders
- Hampshire College alumni
- Songwriters from Oklahoma
- Alternative rock guitarists
- Alternative rock singers
- Musicians from Portland, Oregon
- Male feminists
- Musicians from Texas
- American tenors
- American indie rock musicians
- Feminist musicians
- Virgin Records artists
- Singers from Los Angeles
