Elliott Smith was a singer/songwriter and musician born Steven Paul Smith in Omaha. Smith rose to fame with the help of his signature whispered voice and his technique of layering his vocals to create one-man harmonies. Though he released his debut album Roman Candle in 1994, his contribution to the soundtrack of Good Will Hunting, "Miss Misery," earned him an Oscar nomination for "Best Original Song" in 1998 and sparked his rise to mainstream success. Smith's first album with DreamWorks Records, XO, was released in 1998 and featured a much more full and pop sound. Many critics attempted to attribute this to his bigger label taking over creative control, but Smith denied it. During this time, Smith suffered from severe depression and made several attempts at suicide, though he continued releasing successful albums throughout the 1990s. While recording his final album, Smith began showing signs of paranoia about his record label and he began distancing himself from people close to him. The album Figure 8 was released in 2000, and after attempts at rehab Smith was rushed to the hospital when he was discovered with two stab wounds in his chest in 2003. He died shortly after but his legacy is carried on by his music and vocal style, which reflect the mystery and internal struggles that surrounded his life.
