Singer Elliott Smith Dead In Apparent Suicide

By Neda Ulaby

Published October 22, 2003 at 12:00 AM EDT

Singer-songwriter Elliott Smith, 34, was found dead Tuesday by his girlfriend in the Los Angeles apartment they shared. He apparently stabbed himself in the chest, but an investigation is underway.

Smith was a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter whose atmospheric compositions and Beatles-esque melodies hid dark lyrics about drug use, death and personal anomie.

His song "Miss Misery," used in the soundtrack to the film Good Will Hunting, was nominated for an Oscar. NPR's Neda Ulaby reports on the musician's life, his large cult following and his untimely death.

Neda Ulaby

Neda Ulaby reports on arts, entertainment, and cultural trends for NPR's Arts Desk.

See stories by Neda Ulaby

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