Tom Petty

Artist Image: Tom Petty
Attribution
Image Credit: Ирина Лепнёва (Own work), CC BY-SA 3.0

Biography

Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty (born October 20, 1950) is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T. Wilbury, Jr. and Muddy Wilbury. He has recorded a number of hit singles with the Heartbreakers and as a solo artist, many of which remain heavily played on adult contemporary and classic rock radio. His music, and notably his hits, have become popular among younger generations as he continues to host sold-out shows. Throughout his career, Petty and his collaborators have sold 60 million albums. In 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1969
Number of Albums 13
Record Label
Website tompetty.com
Wikipedia Tom Petty on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

What supergroup was Petty a member of in the late 1980s?

Traveling Wilburys

...the band Mudcrutch, was a member of the late 1980s supergroup the Traveling Wilburys , and had success as a solo artist. Petty had many hit records. Hi...
In what year did the Heartbreakers release Refugee?

1980

...es with the Heartbreakers include Don't Do Me Like That (1979), Refugee ( 1980 ), The Waiting (1981), Don't Come Around Here No More (1985) and Learning...
Along with Free Fallin' and You Don't Know How It Feels, what was a hit album for Petty?

I Won't Back Down

... More (1985) and Learning to Fly (1991). Petty's solo hits include I Won't Back Down (1989), Free Fallin' (1989), and You Don't Know How It Feels (199...
How many records did Petty sell worldwide?

80 million

...he had hit albums from the 1970s through the 2010s and sold more than 80 million records worldwide, making him one of the bestselling music artists of...
How old was Petty when he died in 2017?

66

...for his philanthropy. In 2017, Petty died of drug overdose, at the age of 66 , one week after the end of the Heartbreakers' 40th Anniversary Tour. His ...
At what age did Petty meet Elvis Presley?

ten

...' 40th Anniversary Tour. His interest in rock and roll music began at age ten when he met Elvis Presley. In the summer of 1961, his uncle was working ...
Where was the set of Presley's Follow That Dream set?

Ocala

...le was working on the set of Presley's film Follow That Dream, in nearby Ocala , and invited Petty to watch the shoot. He instantly became a Presley fa...
What country rock outfit did Petty play with?

Mudcrutch

... the early '70s, when they all were in the rambling countryrock outfit Mudcrutch by his side. The tough, lean sound of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers w...
Who was the guitarist that Petty played with in the early 70s?

Mike Campbell

...opped out of school to join Mudcrutch, which also featured guitarist Mike Campbell and keyboardist Benmont Tench. By 1970, Mudcrutch had moved to Los ...
What was the name of Tom Petty's signature single?

American Girl

... of the Ramones, and its rawness was evident in its signature single American Girl , a rock & roll standard that didn't come close to the charts in 197...
What band was the same backtobass sound as the Ramones?

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

...yrock outfit Mudcrutch by his side. The tough, lean sound of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers was in the same backtobasics ballpark of the Ramones, and i...
What was the name of Petty's 1979 album?

Damn the Torpedoes

...big hit until he teamed up with producer Jimmy Iovine in 1979 for Damn the Torpedoes , a sleek, streamlined arena rock album that generated smashes in ...
What was the name of the band that was rooted in rock tradition but flexible enough to accommodate detours into MTV stardom, concept albums and slick experimentalism?

Petty & the Heartbreakers

...ated smashes in Don't Do Me Like That and Refugee. From there, Petty & the Heartbreakers built up a substantial catalog, one that was rooted in rock t...
What year did the band celebrate their 40th anniversary?

2017

...ray. The band celebrated their longevity with a 40th Anniversary Tour in 2017 , at the end of which Petty tragically died from an accidental drug overd...
What tragic event led to the death of Petty?

drug overdose

...n 2017, at the end of which Petty tragically died from an accidental drug overdose . His passing helped put in perspective how he was one of the greate...
What state was Petty raised in?

Florida

...to sound simultaneously timeless and fresh. Born and raised in northern Florida , Petty began playing music while he was still in high school. At the a...
In what country did Mudcrutch become a hit?

UK

...crutch. Their selftitled debut album was a success, becoming a hit in the UK , and later in the US as well. The band enjoyed continued success in the c...
In what hall of fame was he inducted into?

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

...e of the worlds bestselling artists and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . He was also an occasional actor, having made his debut in th...
What film was his first acting role?

FM

... Fame. He was also an occasional actor, having made his debut in the film FM . He played an important role in the epic adventure film The Postman as we...
Who introduced Petty to Elvis Presley when he was 10?

his uncle

...At age 10, Petty was introduced by his uncle to Elvis Presley, who was filming Follow That Dream (1962) in Florida, where Petty grew up. Within two ye...
When did Petty drop out of high school to tour with his band Mudcrutch?

early 1970s

... He dropped out of high school to tour with his band Mudcrutch in the early 1970s . After arriving in Los Angeles, the band quickly disintegrated, but ...
In what year did Petty and two former members join Ron Blair and Stan Lynch to form the Heartbreakers?

1975

...s. After arriving in Los Angeles, the band quickly disintegrated, but in 1975 Petty and two former members, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench, joined Ro...
When was Tom Petty's debut album released?

1976

...etty and the Heartbreakers. The bands eponymous debut album, released in 1976 , initially caused little stir in the United States, but the single Break...
What was the name of the band's first album?

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

... and Benmont Tench, joined Ron Blair and Stan Lynch to form Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers . The bands eponymous debut album, released in 1976, initia...
When did Petty shattered his hand?

punching a studio wall in frustration

...its music videos. In 1984 Petty shattered his hand after punching a studio wall in frustration , but, to the surprise of doctors, he recovered to play ...
In what year did Pettys divorce his wife?

1996

...urprise of doctors, he recovered to play guitar again. Pettys divorce in 1996 from his wife of more than 20 years took a heavy toll on him psychologic...
What was the name of Petty's most personal album?

Echo

...ospection led to the creation of one of his most deeply personal albums, Echo (1999). In 2001 Petty remarried, with Little Richard performing the cere...
Who performed the ceremony?

Little Richard

...tion led to the creation of one of his most deeply personal albums, Echo (1999). In 2001 Petty remarried, with Little Richard performing the ceremony....
When did Petty embark on a successful solo career?

1989

... Tom Petty began his career in earnest with a group called Mudcrutch. In 1989 , Petty embarked on an equally successful solo career, delivering memorab...
What two hits was Petty known for?

Free Fallin and Runnin' Down a Dream

...o career, delivering memorable music videos to hits like Free Fallin and Runnin' Down a Dream . Petty also collaborated with other legendary rockers, i...
What music did Petty idolize?

Elvis Presley and the Beatles

...ive. But Petty found refuge in music, idolizing the likes of Elvis Presley and the Beatles and learning to play guitar. By high school, Pettys passion...
What was Pettys passion for music?

allconsuming

...earning to play guitar. By high school, Pettys passion for music was allconsuming . He began playing bass with a local group called the Epics, and at t...
Petty began playing bass with what local group?

Epics

...ic was allconsuming. He began playing bass with a local group called the Epics , and at the age of 17, he dropped out of school to perform with a new b...
What was the name of Petty's girlfriend?

Jane Benyo

...year 1974 proved a pivotal one for Petty, who married his girlfriend, Jane Benyo (with whom he already had a daughter, Adria), before moving to Los An...
When did Petty marry Jane Benyo?

1974

...r in the group, which soon developed a devoted local following. The year 1974 proved a pivotal one for Petty, who married his girlfriend, Jane Benyo (...
When did he first meet Tom Petty?

1986

...He first met the singer in 1986 , when Zanes band, the Del Fuegos, opened for Petty and the Heartbreakers. Find Petty: The Biography Here I was standin...
At what age did I hear Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers first single, Breakdown?

12

... from a friend who had worked at WBCN in Boston. WBCN thats where, at age 12 , I heard Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers first single, Breakdown. Tell me...
What was the name of the first single from Tompetty?

Breakdown

...here, at age 12, I heard Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers first single, Breakdown . Tell me this isnt true. Im not sure how the constellations of though...
Where was WBCN located?

Boston

...Petty s death. The message came from a friend who had worked at WBCN in Boston . WBCN thats where, at age 12, I heard Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers f...
When did I feel that Petty was giving me better direction than adults?

around the time of the first albums

...ould chart my life in relation to his releases. Early on, around the time of the first albums , I had the feeling that Petty was giving me better direc...
Who confirmed Pettys death?

Tony Dimitriades

...band the Heartbreakers, died Monday. Pettys death was confirmed by Tony Dimitriades , longtime manager of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, on behalf of t...
What was the name of the hospital where he was taken to?

UCLA Medical Center

...ome in Malibu in the early hours of this morning and was taken to UCLA Medical Center but could not be revived. EMTs were able to find a pulse when th...
On what date was Tom Petty born?

October 20, 1950

...is place in rock history. Born the son of an insurance salesman on October 20, 1950 , in Gainesville, Florida, Tom Petty seemed destined for a future i...
What was Tom's father's occupation?

insurance salesman

...oon Fever, cemented his place in rock history. Born the son of an insurance salesman on October 20, 1950, in Gainesville, Florida, Tom Petty seemed de...
Who was Petty's first wife when he divorced?

Jane

... FL; son of an insurance salesman; married, c. 1973, divorced first wife Jane , 1996; married second wife Dana York, 2001; children: Adria, Kim. Like m...
What rock and roll icon inspired Tom Petty to pick up a guitar in the early 1960s?

Elvis Presley

...s first inspired to pick up a guitar after seeing rock and roll icon Elvis Presley perform. Unlike many other aspiring musicians, Petty's long rock an...
How many Grammy Awards has Petty won?

two

...long rock and roll road has led to fame, wealth, millions of albums sold, two Grammy Awards, and a hardearned reputation as one of rock's most endurin...
How long has Petty been playing with his band the Heartbreakers?

nearly two decades

...one of rock's most enduring stars and accessible songwriters. For nearly two decades , Petty, along with his band, the Heartbreakers, has won audiences...
What was Petty's rise to rock stardom?

anything but easy

...bums and energetic live shows. Though his rise to rock stardom was anything but easy , his late 1980s association with other rock music legends as part...
What was the name of the 1989 solo release?

Full Moon Fever

...eling Wilburys, as well as his hugely successful 1989 solo release, Full Moon Fever , cemented his place in rock history. Born the son of an insurance ...
When was Petty born?

Gainesville, Florida

...y. Born the son of an insurance salesman on October 20, 1950, in Gainesville, Florida , Tom Petty seemed destined for a future in rock and roll from th...
How old was he when he met Elvis?

11

..., Tom Petty seemed destined for a future in rock and roll from the age of 11 . He met Elvis Presley when the King of Rock and Roll came to Gainesville ...
Tom Petty was born on what date?

20.10.1950

...Tom Petty (born 20.10.1950 ) Tom Petty is an American rock 'n' roll songwriter and singer. He has played in a number of bands, including Tom Petty and ...
Where did Petty attend high school in Florida?

Gainesville High School

...: Tom Petty was born in Gainesville, Florida, where he attended Gainesville High School . At the age of 10, Petty met the celebrated rock 'n' roll star...
At what age did Elvis Presley become Petty's love of music?

10

...sville, Florida, where he attended Gainesville High School. At the age of 10 , Petty met the celebrated rock 'n' roll star, Elvis Presley and thus bega...
What was the name of Petty's 1976 debut album?

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

..., they released their debut album on Shelter Records, titled Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers . It was this album that launched their breakthrough tracks,...
Who was the lead singer of Fleetwood Mac's 'Insider'?

Stevie Nicks

...ed Hard Promises, which became a Top 10 hit and featured a duet with Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac, entitled 'Insider.' By the time of The Heartbreake...
What was the name of The Heartbreakers' fifth album?

Long After Dark

...ed 'Insider.' By the time of The Heartbreakers' fifth studio album, Long After Dark (1982), Ron Blair had left the band and had been replaced by Howie...