Through a fleeting career with an enduring legacy, Jeff Buckley – singer, guitarist, and songwriter – challenged the conventions of rock & roll with his four-octave vocal range, haunting melodies, emotional lyricism, and wide-ranging repertoire. While he only released one studio album during his lifetime, Buckley deeply connected with audiences through his unbound musical style. Ignoring genre boundaries, Buckley embraced many musical sounds on songs like “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over,” “Forget Her,” and his iconic cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”

The son of folk singer Tim Buckley, he spent years playing small gigs in Los Angeles before relocating to New York, where his unique solo style blossomed. He captivated audiences at intimate venues, including a legendary run at the East Village venue Sin-é that quickly landed him a record deal with Columbia Records in 1992. Buckley’s debut EP Live at Sin-é featured originals “Mojo Pin” and “Eternal Life,” highlighting his ability to effortlessly slide between genres. His innovative songwriting drew upon the influences of Led Zeppelin, Nina Simone, and Qawwali musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

His sole studio album, Grace, showcases Buckley’s virtuosic guitar playing, poetic lyrics, and wide-ranging vocals that veer from soft spoken verses to wailing falsetto choruses. Each track on Grace is unique and not beholden to one sound. Met initially with mixed reviews, the album only grew in popularity, admired by his idols Bob Dylan and Robert Plant. Buckley’s impassioned take on “Hallelujah” polished the song into a haunting anthem of its era.

Though Buckley’s life tragically ended in an accidental drowning in 1997, his popularity continues to grow with posthumously released albums, documentaries, and annual tribute concerts. Grace is widely regarded as one of the best albums of all time, making lists from Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and NME. In 2026, the song “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” earned his first Hot 100 hit due to its social media popularity. Musically, Jeff Buckley lives on through the lyrics and sounds of groundbreaking artists like Radiohead, Coldplay, Muse, and Phoebe Bridgers.

Nominee: Jeff Buckley