Thomas Earl Petty, a renowned American musician and actor, was the lead vocalist and guitarist of the iconic band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, which was established in 1976. Prior to this, he had led the band Mudcrutch and was a member of the esteemed super-group the Traveling Wilburys in the late 1980s, as well as achieving great success as a solo artist.
Throughout his illustrious career, Petty had numerous hit records that have become an integral part of music history. Some of his most notable singles with the Heartbreakers include "Don't Do Me Like That" in 1979, "Refugee" in 1980, "The Waiting" in 1981, "Don't Come Around Here No More" in 1985, and "Learning to Fly" in 1991. As a solo artist, Petty had hits such as "I Won't Back Down" in 1989, "Free Fallin'" in 1989, and "You Don't Know How It Feels" in 1994.
Petty's impressive discography includes hit albums from the 1970s to the 2010s, with sales of over 80 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, and Petty was honored as MusiCares Person of the Year in February 2017 for his significant contributions to music and his philanthropic efforts.
Sadly, Petty passed away in 2017 at the age of 66 due to an accidental drug overdose, just one week after the conclusion of the Heartbreakers' 40th Anniversary Tour.
