More than twenty years after his passing, Elliott Smith's legacy remains as alive as ever. The American singer-songwriter, who died on October 21, 2003 at just 34 years old, was honored with the official naming of an asteroid which now bears his name. The initiative was born from Orlando Campopiano, an independent director from Edinburgh, who had the idea while listening to “Shooting Star”, a song included in the posthumous album “From A Basement On The Hill”. After obtaining the support of the musician's heirs and the collaboration of the PAN-STARRS team, responsible for the discovery of the asteroid, Campopiano presented a formal proposal to the International Astronomical Union to permanently dedicate a celestial body to the author of “Either/Or”. The request was granted and the asteroid (861969) 2014 OS439 was officially renamed “Elliottsmith”. A particularly significant detail concerns the identification number of the asteroid, 861969, which coincides with the musician's date of birth according to Anglo-Saxon notation: 6 August 1969 (8/6/1969).
“With the full support and approval of the Elliott Smith Estate and the PAN-STARRS team that discovered the asteroid, I recently submitted a formal proposal to the International Astronomical Union for a minor planet to be named in his honor permanently. We have just received official approval and the naming is now official: asteroid (861969) 2014 OS439 is officially named 'Elliottsmith'. Very interestingly, the number the asteroid's catalog is 861969, which exactly reflects its date of birth, 8/6/1969!”, explained Campopiano. The director added: “I hope this introduces Elliott's brilliant discography to at least one new person, and I'm happy to see a permanent legacy among the stars! It's also a great honor that this tribute to him has been approved by his heirs and discoverers.”
Indeed, Smith's influence continues to be recognized by artists of different generations and fields. Among those who have recently celebrated his work is the jazz pianist Brad Mehldau, who dedicated the album “Ride Into The Sun” to him. In an interview he defined Smith as an extraordinary author: “Musically he wasn't a simple singer-songwriter: I particularly like his harmonies, it's something that has always moved me immediately since the first time I heard him. He has a unique way of playing the guitar, like Neil Young, Nick Drake or Joni Mitchell. There is an almost orchestral approach, there is a depth in his songs that is more than three simple chords”.
With this recognition Elliott Smith joins a small group of artists to whom an asteroid has been dedicated, alongside figures such as Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Rolling Stones, Beatles and Pink Floyd.
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
