Elliott Smith

@Singers, Timeline and Family ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Elliott Smith was a talented musician who could play multiple instruments like guitar, piano, drums, and clarinet Suicide Depression American Musicians Singers Leo Celebrities Elliott Smith, born as Steven Paul Smith, was a talented musician and singer who rose to fame with his song ‘Miss Misery’ featured in the soundtrack of the Hollywood movie ‘Good Will Hunting’. He could skillfully play multiple instruments like piano, guitar, clarinet and harmonica, and had a voice that was whispery and thin. He used the unique characteristic of his voice to his advantage by creating distinct vocal layers and harmonies. Music ran in his blood, many of his relatives from his mother’s side had musical talents though none of them pursued it professionally. He met aspiring musician Neil Gust while in college and the duo used to perform in clubs around their town. Upon graduation, they formed the band ‘Heatmiser’ recruiting two other musicians. After many years of performing successfully with the band, Smith decided to go solo while still being a part of the band. He found greater success and fame as a solo artist which overshadowed the popularity of his band prompting him to leave the band and concentrate on his solo career. Though a successful musician, he was a troubled individual—he suffered from depression and was addicted to alcohol and drugs. He met with a tragic end when he stabbed himself to death following an argument with his girlfriend.

Personal Details

Birthday: August 6, 1969 Died on: October 21, 2003 Nationality: American Famous: Musicians, Singers Known as: Steven Paul Smith Cause of death: Suicide Birth Place: Omaha Information Detail Birthday August 6, 1969 Died on October 21, 2003 Nationality American Famous Musicians, Singers Known as Steven Paul Smith Cause of death Suicide Birth Place Omaha Gender Male Father Gary Smith Mother Bunny Kay Berryman Sun Sign Leo Born in Omaha Died at Age 34

Omaha

Elliott Smith born at Unsplash Birth Place

He was not married and shared a home with his girlfriend Jennifer Chiba till his death. Unsplash Personal Life

He led a very troubled personal life and battled with depression, drug addiction and alcoholism. He attempted rehab many times but that did not work for him. On his own accord, he gave up alcohol and psychiatric medications in 2003. Unsplash Personal Life

On 21 October 2003, he committed suicide by stabbing himself in the chest. He was just 34. Unsplash Personal Life

Elliott Smith was born to Gary Smith and Bunny Berryman. At the time of his birth, Gary was a student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, while Bunny was an elementary school teacher. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

His parents divorced when he was six months old. Initially he lived with his mother who eventually remarried. His stepfather sexually abused the little boy who had a very difficult and disturbed childhood. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

He began playing the piano from a young age and learned guitar by the time he was 10. He also began to compose original songs and played one piece at an arts festival which won him a prize. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

He moved to Oregon when he was 14 to live with his father and his new family consisting of his stepmother and two half-sisters. As a disturbed teenager from a trouble home, he started using drugs and alcohol. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

At this time, he also started exploring music as a professional career and began to record his music with a borrowed recorder. As a student in Lincoln High School, he sang, played multiple instruments, and occasionally performed for the bands ‘Stranger than Fiction’ and ‘A Murder of Crows’. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

During college he met Neil Gust who shared his dreams of building a musical career. The duo recruited bassist Brandt Peterson and drummer Tony Lash and formed the alternative rock band ‘Heatmiser’ in 1991. Unsplash Career

In 1992, the band released an Extended Play (EP) of six demo songs in 1992. It was a limited version series and some of the songs from the EP were later re-recorded for Heatmiser’s future album. Unsplash Career

Heatmiser released its first album, ‘Dead Air’, in 1993. Their music was a contrast of happy and cheerful songs, along with sad and melancholy singles. Their first album featured the single ‘Still’ by Elliott. Unsplash Career

The band released an (EP) titled ‘Yellow No.5’ in 1994. The EP was appreciated by music critics for having a varied and fresh approach. The same year their second album, ‘Cop and Speeder’ was also out. Unsplash Career

The band was doing fine, but not well enough to support the band mates financially. Elliott did odd jobs also to earn his living. Unsplash Career

His song ‘Miss Misery’ featured on the soundtrack of the drama movie ‘Good Will Hunting’ (1997) was his claim to wide spread fame. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song and was requested to play the songs at many of his tours. Unsplash Major Works

His last album, ‘From a basement on the Hill’ which he left incomplete at the time of his death was released posthumously and went on to become the most popular of his works. Unsplash Major Works

Information	Detail
Birthday	August 6, 1969
Died on	October 21, 2003
Nationality	American
Famous	Musicians, Singers
Known as	Steven Paul Smith
Cause of death	Suicide
Birth Place	Omaha
Gender	Male
Father	Gary Smith
Mother	Bunny Kay Berryman
Sun Sign	Leo
Born in	Omaha
Died at Age	34

Elliott Smith

American

Aug 6, 1969

Biography

Personal Details

Omaha