Harry Nilsson

Birth Name:

Harry Edward Nilsson III

Birth Date:

June 15, 1941

Birth Place:

Brooklyn, New York

Death Date:

January 15, 1994

Place of Death:

5354 Lewis Road, Agoura Hills, California

Age:

Cause of Death:

Heart attack

Cemetery Name:

Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park

Claim to Fame:

Music

A leading pop songwriter first, and a performer a distant second Harry Nilsson was never able to fully develop his talent and instead was more widely regarded for his erratic rock 'n' roll lifestyle. Nilsson began writing songs in the early sixties while working the late shift in the computer department of a large California bank. After struggling for 5 years, he sold the songs "Paradise" and "Here I Sit" to producer and future murderer Phil Spector and the Ronettes. He signed a recording contract with RCA after he sold songs to The Monkees and the fledging Yardbirds. In 1967 he released the critically acclaimed album "The Pandemonium Shadow Show", showcasing his three-octave range while still working at the bank. The album did not go unnoticed by the Beatles and soon Nilsson became good friends with the Fab Four. Nilsson scored his first Top Ten hit with "Everybody's Talkin'", the theme song from the movie "Midnight Cowboy" (ironically written by someone else). In 1971 he scored big with his most commercially successful album "Nilsson Schmilsson," which included the emotive ballad "Without You." But Nilsson's problems began with the infamous year-long "lost weekend" with John Lennon during Lennon's split with Yoko Ono. The year long sessions of drinking and debauchery stayed with Nilsson the rest of his life. Another setback came when, after Lennon offered to produce Nilsson's next album, Nilsson lost the upper register of his voice for much of the recording sessions. Failing in health during the nineties, Nilsson passed away in his sleep from a massive heart attack just two days after putting the final vocal tracks down on his last album.

Fun Fact

Harry Nilsson owned the London flat where both Mama Cass Elliot and Keith Moon of the Who died. Distraught he sold the flat to Pete Townsend of the Who.

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park

5600 Lindero Canyon Road

Westlake Village, California, 91362

USA

North America

Map:

Map of Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village, California.

Grave Location:

Garden of Gethsemane, Plot 830, Grave A

Grave Location Description

As you drive into the cemetery at the first intersection (past the office and parking lot) you will see the sign for the Garden of Gethsemane on your right. Turn right and drive halfway down the section and park. Walk up the hill to the top and to your left you will see a large marble statue atop a short-stack of cremains surrounded by a hedge. Count approximately 12 graves from the hedge, even with the statue, and you should find the final resting place of singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson.