Time Capsule: Jan. 15, 1994

Singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson died in his sleep from heart failure 15 years ago.

Nilsson was born June 15, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York. His first musical gig was as a demo singer in 1960, and three years later he was writing songs for Little Richard, and by 1964 he was working with Phil Spector. Nilsson's debut album, Spotlight On Nilsson, was released in 1966 under his last name, which was how he was usually credited.

The singer/songwriter became a critical success the next year with Pandemonium Shadow Show, but didn't break through until he released Aerial Ballet in 1968. It included Nilsson's cover of Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talkin'," which won him a Grammy Award and was a top 10 hit south of the border.

Nilsson's next few albums were hits, including 1971's Nilsson Schmilsson (pictured above), which included two hits based on just a single guitar chord.

The '70s wasn't exactly the greatest time for Nilsson, who, along with John Lennon (who had previously been his friend), began using heavy amounts of drugs and alcohol. Nilsson also ruptured his vocal cord during the recording of 1974's Pussy Cats. (The album was recorded during John Lennon's infamous "Lost Weekend.")

Although Nilsson later cleaned up, he was devasted by several high profile deaths at his London apartment. Nilsson would sublet the apartment to his friends while he was away. Former Mamas And Papas singer Cass Elliott died of heart failure when she rented the apartment in 1974, and four years later, The Who's Keith Moon died of an overdose in the flat.

Nilsson later moved to Los Angeles and recorded his final studio album, 1980's Flash Harry. Thereafter, he occasionally wrote songs for television and movies. After Lennon was murdered in 1980, Nilsson became a gun control activist.

In 1993, Nilsson suffered a massive heart attack. He began trying to record a final studio album afterwards, and finished tracking the vocals for the disc the night he died.