Jeff Buckley, born Jeffrey Scott Buckley on November 17, 1966, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist known for his ethereal singing voice and eclectic musical style. A native of Anaheim, California, Buckley was the son of Tim Buckley, a similarly influential musician. Despite his father's fame, Buckley Jr. only met him once, a fact that shaped his life and music. His musical journey began in earnest after moving to New York City in the early 1990s, where he performed at the East Village coffee shop Sin-é. These performances, intimate and raw, quickly gained him a devoted following, and laid the groundwork for his debut album. Grace, released in 1994, was met with critical acclaim, showcasing Buckley's soaring tenor voice and talent for genre-blending, from rock and jazz to blues and folk. Despite its initial commercial underperformance, Grace has since been recognized as a seminal album of the '90s, with Rolling Stone magazine ranking it among the 500 greatest albums of all time. Buckley's promising career was tragically cut short when he drowned during a spontaneous swim in the Mississippi River in 1997. His second album, Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk, was posthumously released in 1998, featuring tracks Buckley had been working on before his death. Despite his brief career, Buckley's influence has been enduring. His version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah remains one of his most beloved performances, a testament to a talent taken too soon. Buckley's legacy continues to inspire artists across genres, a testament to his unique voice and timeless music.