The first biography of the late Grammy-winning, Oscar-nominated singer-songwriter Elliott Smith It is rare for a recording artist to move his fans so deeply that the news of his death sparks instant tribute concerts worldwide. Elliott Smith was such an artist. On October 21st 2003, he was found dead in his apartment from two stab wounds to the heart. But before his tragic death - which is still under investigation - came the solitary beauty of Smith's music. Best-known for his heartrending song Miss Misery from the Oscar-nominated Good Will Hunting soundtrack, Elliott Smith was catapulted to the status of indie icon after performing at the 1998 Oscars. Sandwiched between Celine Dion and Trisha Yearwood and wearing an unlikely white tuxedo, he looked miserable - but many who witnessed his surreally beautiful performance thought he put Dion's My Heart Must Go On to shame. His albums have since sold over half a million copies, with many crediting his melody-based rock for the success of artists from Belle & Sebastian to the Flaming Lips. Featuring never-before-published interviews with those that knew and loved Smith, this book takes us from his childhood in rural Amherst, Massachusetts, to his life - and eventual death - 3,000 miles away in Los Angeles. Focusing on the crucial interplay between Smith's life and music, and establishing his place in America's musical canon as one who helped to usher in today's garage-rock revival, this is a groundbreaking biography on an amazing singer and songwriter (Moby).