Late singer’s album to be released in fall

Singer-songwriter Elliott Smith’s final studio album is expected to be released this fall, the late musician’s father says.

“We are beginning the final mixing and production phase in mid-May and are planning for a September or October release,” Gary Smith writes on www.sweetadeline.net, a Web site dedicated to his son’s music.

Smith’s death last October from stab wounds to the chest was initially ruled a suicide, but the Los Angeles County coroner’s office later said an investigation could not rule out that he might have been killed by someone else. The investigation remains open.