Who is Tom Petty?
Tom Petty was a well-known entertainer who worked his entire life in the music and entertainment industries as a musician, record producer, singer, songwriter, and actor.
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Biography
Thomas Earl Petty was born on October 20, 1950 in Gainesville, Florida, in the United States. Tom Petty is his stage name. Earl Petty is the name of his father, and Kitty Petty is the name of his mother. His father worked in a grocery store, while his mother worked in the local tax office. He was the oldest son in the family, along with a younger brother named Bruce.
Tom Petty was always interested in music and began taking guitar lessons when he was a child. This contributed to his education. In addition to that, he was a member in the neighborhood band known as “Epics.”
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When he was 17 years old, he left Gainesville High School, where he had been a student until that point. After that, he established a new band that he called “Mudcrutch,” which would later become “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.”
Age and Birthday
Tom passed away on October 2, 2017, at the age of 66. Petty died that night at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica after his wife Dana discovered him unconscious, not breathing, and in cardiac arrest at their Malibu home that morning. As of 2023, he would have been 73 years old.
Personal Life
Tom Petty had two different marriages. His first wife was a woman named Jane Benyo, and they tied the knot in 1974. They are the proud parents of two daughters, Adria Kim and Anna Kim, who are both successful performers in the entertainment industry. This couple finalized their divorce in 1996. His wedding to Dana York took place on June 3rd, 2001.
Net Worth
His net worth was $95 million when he was alive.
Career
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers was formed in 1976 by Tom Petty, Benmont Tench, Ron Blair, and Stan Lynch. Their self-titled album released in November of that same year proved to be a huge success both in the UK and the US, particularly due to their single ‘American Girl’ which charted at number 24 on the UK album charts and number 55 on the US album charts.
The band followed up with their second album ‘You’re Gonna Get It’ in 1978 with moderate success. However, it was their third album, ‘Damn the Torpedoes’ released in 1979, that really brought them major success. It sold nearly two million copies and was certified two times platinum in the US and three times platinum in Canada.
They went on to release ‘Hard Promises’ in 1981, ‘Long After Dark’ in 1982, ‘Southern Accents’ in 1985, and ‘Let Me Up’ in 1987. Popular songs from these albums include ‘The Waiting’, ‘You Got Lucky’, ‘Don’t Come Around Here No More’, and many more. In 1986, the band also toured with Bob Dylan.
Tom made his acting debut in the 1978 film “FM” as a cameo. Following this appearance, he appeared in “Made in Heaven” in 1987 and “The Postman” in 1997. Petty also appeared on “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show,” “The Larry Sanders Show,” and “The Simpsons” and had a recurring role on the animated TV show “King of the Hill.”