Jeff Buckley

Son of cult singer-songwriter Tim Buckley, Jeff Buckley made a name for himself playing his own brand of passionate rock around New York's Lower East Side in the early 1990s. His most notable residency was at the cafe Sin-e on St. Mark's Street. His first record for Columbia, Live at Sin-e, won him a few fans outside of New York but it was the monster sound of Grace that made Buckley a (reluctant) star. The record came off a bit like Led Zeppelin fronted by Prince and showcased his songwriting skills on hits such as "Last Goodbye" and "So Real." Buckley may be remembered as much for his mysterious death as he will be for his deeply emotional brand of rock. On May 29, 1997, Buckley went swimming fully clothed in the Mississippi River. His body was found a few weeks later down the river at the age of 30. His last record, Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk (1998) contains completed studio tracks he had been working on in Memphis at the time of his death as well as a collection of unreleased recordings compiled by his label and family.