Tom Petty Biography

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Tom Petty is an amazing musician. Petty received his first inspiration from Elvis Presley. Presley came to a nearby town to work on a film and Petty went to watch him and from that moment on Petty was inspired.

Petty started his music career by working with "The Sundowners", "The Epics", and the "Mudcrutch" along with drummer Randall Marsh. He then began his recording career with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. In 1976, their self-titled debut album was released. It took a full year for the band to have a following. In 1978 their second album "You're Gonna Get It!" was released and was the band's first gold album. In 1979 Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers released their third album, "Damn the Torpedoes", which went triple-platinum. In 1981, "Hard Promises" was released going platinum having the hit, "The Waiting".

"Long After Dark" was released in 1982. Ron Blair was replaced by Howie Epstein as the bass player. In 1985, "Southern Accents" was released. A tour began and helped in the production of a live album, "Pack Up The Plantation-Live". In 1986 & 1987 the band toured with Bob Dylan. Later in 1987 the band released, "Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)". In 1989, "Full Moon Fever"(solo project) was released. It was in the Billboard top 10 for 34 weeks and earned triple platinum status.

In 1991, "Into the Great Wide Open" was released including "Learning to Fly" and "Into the Great Wide Open" singles. In 1994, Petty released his second solo album, "Wildflowers". "Playback", a six disc collection from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers box-set was released. In 1996, a solo soundtrack for the movie "She's the One" was released. Three years later he and the Heartbreakers released "Echo".

Petty's most recent album was "The Last DJ", released in 2002. He has been honored with 16 Grammy Award nominations since 1981. He earned a Grammy in 1989 for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for his work with the Traveling Wilburys. In 1994, he received two more Grammy Awards for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance and Best Engineered Album.

In 2002, the group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In 2006, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers agreed to be the headline act for the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. In addition, to the Bonnaroo Festival, Petty will also be touring in the summer of 2006.

Petty's new solo album "Highway Companion" will be released in 2006.

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