Elliott Smith, whose real name was Steven Paul Smith, was a gifted musician and vocalist whose song “Miss Misery” was featured on the soundtrack of the Hollywood film “Good Will Hunting.” He was a multi-instrumentalist who could play the piano, guitar, clarinet, and harmonica, and he had a low, whispery voice. He took advantage of his voice’s specific characteristics by generating separate vocal layers and harmonies. Music was in his blood; several of his mother’s family had musical abilities, but none of them pursued it professionally. While in college, he met aspiring musician Neil Gust, and the two used to perform at local clubs. They formed the band ‘Heatmiser’ after graduation, enlisting the help of two other musicians. Smith opted to go solo while still being a member of the band after many years of great performances with the band. As a solo artist, he achieved greater success and fame, which overwhelmed the popularity of his band, causing him to leave the band and focus on his solo career. He was a difficult man who struggled from despair and was hooked to drink and drugs, despite his fame as a musician. After a disagreement with his girlfriend, he stabbed himself to death, ending his life tragically.
Childhood and Adolescence
Gary Smith and Bunny Berryman had a son named Elliott Smith. Gary was a medical student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center at the time of his birth, and Bunny was an elementary school teacher.
When he was six months old, his parents divorced. Initially, he shared a home with his mother, who later remarried. His stepfather sexually molested him as a child, and he had a terrible and troubled life.
He began playing the piano at an early age and learnt to play the guitar at the age of ten. He also started writing original songs and received an award for one of them at an arts festival.
When he was 14, he relocated to Oregon to live with his father and his new family, which included his stepmother and two half-sisters. He began abusing drugs and alcohol as a troubled adolescent from a troubled environment.
He also began studying music as a professional career at this time, and began recording his music with a rented recorder. He sang, played numerous instruments, and occasionally performed for the bands ‘Stranger than Fiction’ and ‘A Murder of Crows’ as a student at Lincoln High School.
Despite home unrest, he excelled in his studies and was named a National Merit Scholar when he graduated from high school.
After graduation, he began referring to himself as ‘Elliott,’ rather than his given name of ‘Steven.’
He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and political science from Hampshire College in Massachusetts in 1991.
Career of Elliott Smith
During college, he met Neil Gust, who shared his desire to pursue a career in music. In 1991, the duo founded the alternative rock band ‘Heatmiser’ with bassist Brandt Peterson and drummer Tony Lash.
In 1992, the band issued a six-song Extended Play (EP) of demo material. It was part of a limited-edition series, and some of the EP’s songs were later re-recorded for Heatmiser’s next album.
Heatmiser’s debut album, ‘Dead Air,’ was published in 1993. Their music was a mix of upbeat and upbeat tracks as well as sad and mournful singles. Elliott’s track “Still” was featured on their debut album.
In 1994, the band issued the (EP) ‘Yellow No.5’. Music critics praised the EP for its diverse and innovative approach. Their second album, ‘Cop and Speeder,’ was released the same year.
The band was performing well, but not well enough to financially support the other members. Elliott supplemented his income by doing odd jobs.
In 1994, he began to consider pursuing a solo career. ‘Roman Candle,’ his first album as a solo artist, was released. The album garnered positive reviews and was praised for being honest and painful. The agony of Elliott’s terrible childhood was reflected in many of his songs.
He began delivering solo performances, and indie musician Mary Lou Lord asked him to open for her on a tour across the United States. During that year, he did a lot of touring to promote his solo career.
Elliott’s second solo album, ‘Elliott Smith,’ was released in 1995, following the success of his debut solo album. Dark tracks were featured with minimal background music.
Heatmiser’s last album, ‘Mic City Sons,’ was published in 1996. It had a very pop flavor to it, and it was praised for its song diversity. Tensions between the band members were rising, and the band disbanded before their last record was released.
Director Jem Cohen made an 11-minute clip of Elliott performing acoustic songs in 1996 and released it in 1997. ‘Lucky Three: an Elliott Smith Portrait’ was the title of the film.
He played numerous instruments on his 1997 album, ‘Either/Or.’ The songs were described as his “greatest ever” in a music review. He began to suffer from despair and drunkenness during this time, despite his growing celebrity and fortune.
He authored the words and composed the music for the song “Miss Misery,” which was released in 1997 and was used on the soundtrack of the film “Good Will Hunting.” He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Song.
Despite his professional achievements, he grew extremely despondent and contemplated suicide. Over the course of his career, he published two more albums: ‘XO’ (1998) and ‘Figure 8’ (2001). (2000). Both albums were successful.
When he died, he was working on an album called ‘From a Basement on the Hill.’ In 2004, the record was published posthumously.
Major Projects of Elliott Smith
His claim to fame was his song “Miss Misery,” which was featured on the soundtrack of the drama film “Good Will Hunting” (1997). He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Song and was asked to perform the songs on many of his tours.
His final album, ‘From a Basement on the Hill,’ which he left unfinished when he died, was released posthumously and went on to become his most popular work.
Achievements & Awards
During his career, he did not win any major accolades, however he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song for his song “Miss Misery” from the 1997 film “Good Will Hunting.”
Personal History and Legacy
He was not married, and he and his girlfriend Jennifer Chiba shared a residence until his death.
He had a tumultuous personal life, suffering with despair, drug abuse, and alcoholism. He tried rehab several times, but it didn’t work for him. He stopped drinking and taking mental drugs on his own in 2003.
He committed suicide by stabbing himself in the chest on October 21, 2003. He was only 34 years old at the time.
Elliott Smith’s Net Worth
Elliott Smith’s net worth was estimated to be between $1 and $5 million when he died, according to Wikipedia, Forbes, IMDb, and other online sources. He made a living as a professional folk singer. He is a native of Nebraska.
Trivia
His death sparked numerous debates, with some claiming that it was a homicide rather than a suicide.
Benjamin Nugent’s biography, ‘Elliott Smith and the Big Nothing,’ was released a few months after his death.
He was a die-hard Beatles fan.