Songs, Albums & Quotes of Harry Nilsson: A Pamphlet for Generation Z Nilsson Newcomers

By James Curtis Geist

Harry Nilsson was born in Brooklyn in 1941 and told his father died in World War II, only to find out later "Dad" left the family in 1944 to start a new family in Florida. Nilsson moved out at age 15 to Los Angelos and worked at the Paramount Theater, which featured live rock acts. Harry would meet with the muscians to learn piano cord until 1960 when the Paramount was closed. He began working nightshift in a computer division of a bank so he could write songs during the day and peddle himself to music producers and record companies.

Early in his career he was discovered by the Beatles in 1968 who loved his "Pandemonium Shadow Show" album. At a press conference, John Lennon said, "Nilsson is our favorite American group." The Monkees recorded his song "Cuddly Toy," and the rest is history. The Beatles and Nilsson were became best buddies and in the mid-1970's were part of the "Hollywood Vampire Club" drinking, drugging and partying like there was no tommorow. Weirdly, Mama Cass of the Mama and Papas died (heart attack) in Harry's flat in 1974 and Keith Moon, drummer of the Who, also died (drug overdose) in Harry's flat in 1978.

Nilsson never performed live due to stage fright. He did several television appearances if there was no studio audience. He recorded two Gold Records, one in 1970 and tht other in 1972. He made 16 studio albums with ten of his songs charted on the Top 100, with three in the top ten and one number one hit

This top ten hits are: WIthout You, Everybody's Talkin', Coconut, Spaceman, Jump Into the Fire, Me and My Arrow, I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City, Daybreak, Remember (Christmas) and As Time Goes By. His gold albums are Nilsson Schmilsson (1970) and Son of Schmilsson (1972).

He was hailed as a genius and recognized by his peers as one of the geatest singer-songwriters of the twentieth century. He pioneered the overdub (recording additional sounds on the existing recording), was a skilled composer and synthesizer of rock and pop and one of the few recording artists to achieve significant commercial success without touring.

Nilsson became an anti-handgun advocate after the assasination of his dear friend, John Lennon in 1980. Sadly, in 1990, Harrry had only $300 to his name after his financial adviser embezzled all his hard earned money. On January 15th, 1994, Harry died in his home from a heart attack he suffered in February of 1993. Sadly, his hard living brought an early end to the "American Beatle."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FK3R456Q
• ISBN13: 9798294270919
• Release Date: July 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 30 Pages
• Weight: 0.12 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"