The musician was Jeff Buckley. He died in an accidental drowning in the Wolf River harbor near the Mississippi River in Memphis on May 29, 1997.

Quick Scoop

  • Buckley was best known for his album Grace and his version of “Hallelujah.”
  • Reports say he went into the water near Memphis, and a passing boat’s wake pulled him under.
  • He was 30 years old when he died.

Why people remember it

His death became one of music’s most talked-about tragedies because it happened just as he was preparing to record his second album. His legacy has stayed strong over the years, especially among younger artists and fans who discovered his music later.

TL;DR

It was Jeff Buckley — the singer-songwriter who drowned near the Mississippi River in Memphis in 1997.