Thomas Earl Petty
October 20, 1950 - October 2, 2017
(photo credit- click here)
Legendary singer/songwriter Tom Petty died today after suffering from complications of cardiac arrest. Petty was found unconscious in full cardiac arrest early on Monday morning in his home in Malibu, after which he was rushed to UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica. Earlier in the day, CBS News had prematurely announced the singer's death- leading to a surge of social media posts. The story was denied hours later after the LAPD announced that Petty had not passed and was still in critical condition- having been taken off life support. Petty's manager Tony Dimitriades confirmed the news just hours later, saying in a statement to the press that the singer died "peacefully at 8:40 pm PST surrounded by family, his bandmates and friends. Petty was 66 years old.
Born in Gainesville, Florida, Tom Petty was only ten years old when he met Elvis Presley on the set of Presley's movie Follow That Dream. After seeing the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, Petty knew he wanted to become a musician. By 1970, Petty and guitarist Tom Leadon formed Mudcrutch. Along with Petty and Leadon was singer Jim Lenehan, guitarist Mike Campbell and drummer Randall March. During their original run together, the band didn't release any albums- although the band would reunite nearly three decades later in 2007.
After Mudcrutch's split in 1975, Petty brought in ex-Mudcrutch members Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench. Together, they would end up forming Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Petty and the band would go on the achieve commercial success with hit songs such as "American Girl," "Breakdown," "Refugee," "Don't Do Me Like That," and "Don't Come Around Here No More." Petty was also able to achieve success with a solo album or two, his most popular being 1989's Full Moon Fever- which featured classic rock radio staples such as "Free Fallin'," "I Won't Back Down," and "Runnin' Down a Dream." One year prior to the album's release, Petty joined the Traveling Wilburys supergroup with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison. The band's debut, Volume 1, was a commercial success- featuring hits such as "Handle With Care" and "End of the Line." Despite the passing of Roy Orbison shortly after the album's release, the band made another album in 1990 confusingly titled Volume 3.
In his career, Petty released thirteen studio albums with the Heartbreakers and three solo albums. In his life, Petty was married twice. From 1974 to 1996, Petty was married to Jane Benyo. Together, the couple had two daughters- Adria and Anna Kim. In 2001, Petty married Dana York. Through her, Petty had a stepson Dylan- York's son from her previous marriage.
The full statement from Tony Dimitriades was posted on Twitter. Below is the full text:
"On behalf of the Tom Petty family, we are devastated to announce the untimely death of our father, husband, brother, leader and friend, Tom Petty.
"He suffered cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu in the early hours of this morning and was taken to UCLA Medical Center but could not be revived. He died peacefully at 8:40 PM PST surrounded by family, his bandmates, and his friends."
Born in Gainesville, Florida, Tom Petty was only ten years old when he met Elvis Presley on the set of Presley's movie Follow That Dream. After seeing the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, Petty knew he wanted to become a musician. By 1970, Petty and guitarist Tom Leadon formed Mudcrutch. Along with Petty and Leadon was singer Jim Lenehan, guitarist Mike Campbell and drummer Randall March. During their original run together, the band didn't release any albums- although the band would reunite nearly three decades later in 2007.
After Mudcrutch's split in 1975, Petty brought in ex-Mudcrutch members Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench. Together, they would end up forming Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Petty and the band would go on the achieve commercial success with hit songs such as "American Girl," "Breakdown," "Refugee," "Don't Do Me Like That," and "Don't Come Around Here No More." Petty was also able to achieve success with a solo album or two, his most popular being 1989's Full Moon Fever- which featured classic rock radio staples such as "Free Fallin'," "I Won't Back Down," and "Runnin' Down a Dream." One year prior to the album's release, Petty joined the Traveling Wilburys supergroup with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison. The band's debut, Volume 1, was a commercial success- featuring hits such as "Handle With Care" and "End of the Line." Despite the passing of Roy Orbison shortly after the album's release, the band made another album in 1990 confusingly titled Volume 3.
In his career, Petty released thirteen studio albums with the Heartbreakers and three solo albums. In his life, Petty was married twice. From 1974 to 1996, Petty was married to Jane Benyo. Together, the couple had two daughters- Adria and Anna Kim. In 2001, Petty married Dana York. Through her, Petty had a stepson Dylan- York's son from her previous marriage.
The full statement from Tony Dimitriades was posted on Twitter. Below is the full text:
"On behalf of the Tom Petty family, we are devastated to announce the untimely death of our father, husband, brother, leader and friend, Tom Petty.
"He suffered cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu in the early hours of this morning and was taken to UCLA Medical Center but could not be revived. He died peacefully at 8:40 PM PST surrounded by family, his bandmates, and his friends."
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