Thomas early Petty was born on 20 October 1950, Gainesville, Florida, US.
His interest in music began at a minor age.
At the age of 10, he was introduced to his uncle Elvis Presley when he was working with his film “Follow that Dream” (1962), Florida. Tom got highly inspired by Presley and held a guitar for his musical journey.
In the early 1970s, he dropped out of high school to tour with his band, Mudcrutch.
In a curiosity about rock and pop music, he fitted up his hands on guitar strings in just 2 years.
He stopped nowhere after that, his passion for music composed wonderful fiction like single strings, songs.
After moving to Los Angeles, the band collapsed. However, in 1975 Petty and the former two members, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench joined Ron Blair and Stan Lynch. Thus, they formed Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
The band’s legendary album, released in 1976, initially caused little stir in the United States.
But the single “Breakdown” was a smash in Britain, and when it was re-released in the U.S. The song made the Top 40 in 1978. Damn the torpedoes(1979), featuring the hits
“Don’t Do Me Like That” and “Refugee,” shot to number two. Despite the group’s success in the 1980s levelling off, there were several hits, including Petty’s duet with Stevie Nicks, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” (1981), and the Heartbreakers’ “Don’t Come Around Here No More” (1985). This band also gained recognition for its music videos.
In 1984 Petty had his hand damaged after punching a studio wall in frustration. However, to the surprise of doctors, he recovered to play the guitar again. The Heartbreakers also backed Bob Dylan on tour in 1986, and later Petty joined Dylan, former Beatles. George Harrison, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne (formerly of the Electric Light Orchestra). In the supergroup of the Traveling Wilburys, with whom Petty won his first Grammy Award in 1989. That was the year when Lynne produced Petty’s first solo album, ‘Full Moon Fever’, putting Petty back on the charts with the hit single “Free Fallin”.
This popularity was followed in the 1990s with more group and solo albums, including the multimillion-selling Wildflowers (1994), which was presented as a solo album but featured contributions from the Heartbreakers, most notably guitarist Campbell, ever Petty’s essential collaborator.
Among his popular songs, “American girl” is also one of the iconic songs featured heavily in Hollywood films.
His outstanding vocals, a master technique in guitar captured millions of listeners, music gave rise to crazy dance, lyrics sometimes got people emotional.
In one of his autobiographies, Tom mentioned that his music teacher Don Felder taught him guitar and piano. He said that Don Felder was his first-ever teacher, who later joined him in the band, Eagle.
It is very strange to imagine, but it is true that young Petty worked as the ground crew of the University of Florida but never attended as a student.
Petty was found unconscious at his home, not breathing and in cardiac arrest, in the early morning of October 2, 2017. He would have been 70-years-old today.
Nevertheless, for the first time, his committee workers and his fans get engaged with the music community to celebrate and pay tribute to their sweetheart Tom Petty’s death anniversary in 2017.
All his fans and followers, his admirers and family, plan together to make a Tom Petty’s birthday celebration. All of them gather at Tom’s hometown, Gainesville. The day is still remembered as a full-fledged Music Festival. To celebrate Tom Petty’s life and legacy, they also feature local as well as national talents, and fans travelling from across the country.
Though Petty is no more today, his success and his fame have kept him alive in the hearts of his fans. A well-illustrated example.
