Jeff Buckley, a lost genius

Jeff Buckley was 30 years old when he died in a drowning accident in 1997. His reputation is remarkable given that he released only one album in his lifetime. He was however lauded by fans, critics and other musicians as one of the most promising singer songwriters of his generation. The adulation was based on a four-song EP of Buckley on electric guitar in live sessions at a tiny coffee house in New York's Greenwich Village and his single debut album Grace, a mix of original songs and covers, including Benjamin Britten's 'Corpus Christi'.

Jeff Buckley loved to tour small coffee houses, clubs and lounges as a solo artist but formed his band for the Grace album and went on a two year world tour with them on its release in the US. The album won wide praise in the UK where Buckley was a surprising success and the grunge-loaded Reading festival. And he picked up a prestigious 'Gran Prix International Du Disque' award in France. His extraordinary vocal range - nearly four octaves - and raw emotional delivery help push his mercurial talent front stage.

But after his world tour Jeff Buckley went on his so-called 'phantom solo tour' of small clubs in the US in 1996/97 playing under aliases such as Father Demo, Topless America, Smackcrobiotic and Martha & the Nicotines. Buckley posted an internet note saying he missed the anonymity of playing in cafes and local bars. He was working with his band on the much awaited second album Sketches For My Sweetheart Drunk when fate dealt a cruel blow in May 1998 and he was swept away while swimming in the Wolf River near Memphis.

Work on the half-finished album was released posthumously followed my 'Mystery White Boy: Live 95 96' a collection of live performances garnered from his 'Grace' tour. What may have been can only be conjecture but many who knew him considered Jeff Buckley a genius and we can only wonder at what might have been.

Bob Cartwright writes for Europe City News and Trip Planning

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