Harry Nilsson Biography

Pal to the Beatles and pop synth mixer, Harry Nilsson was a songwriter and singer who was a friend to all. Born Harry Edward Nilsson III on June 15, 1941, he dropped out of high school only to fake a high school diploma in order to get a late-night bank job. While working the bank's computer section, Nilsson sparked an interest in music and began writing songs and playing with melodies. From there, he started singing on demos only to have artists like Glen Campbell and The Monkees record his songs. He left the bank in 1967, following his career change to full-time songwriter, and signed with RCA that year. Pandemonium Shadow Show was the result of this record deal, and it garnered him the attention he was seeking with the familiar Beatle tune You Can't Do That a part of this 12-track album. His friends John Lennon and Paul McCartney named him their favorite American singer, and from there, Nilsson mania occurred.He created two more albums, with the single One making the Top Ten in 1969, followed by the Midnight Cowboy theme song Everybody's Talkin', making Nilsson an international hit. Nilsson continued to stun audiences with the way he so easily changed genres and sound. Never one to be boggled down with stereotypes, his 1970s albums consisted almost entirely of cover songs. Unlike other artists who finally made a break onto the mainstream, Nilsson never performed live. Over the years, Nilsson continued to surprise fans with his eccentric behavior in and out of the recording studio. As a favorite drinking buddy of John Lennon's, Nilsson gained more mainstream success as he and the Beatles star were often outlandish in their drinking habits. The ‘70s found Nilsson out of the studio and into more business-like ventures, especially with his gun control campaign after friend Lennon was shot. He was diagnosed with diabetes and had a fatal heart attack in 1994.