Tom Petty

In 1986 and 1987, Tom and The Heartbreakers toured the world with Bob Dylan. The group served as his back-up band and Tom shared vocals with Dylan on several songs each night. The resulting Live In Australia DVD remains unreleased in the United States (although it was briefly available on VHS).

Although (when not with The Wilburys) Tom usually writes alone, his most frequent collaborator is his good buddy and co-producer, "Heartbreakers" lead guitarist Mike Campbell.

In 1982, Petty and The Heartbreakers recorded Hard Promises, only to discover that his record company planned to use the band's name and reputation to justify increasing the list price for LP's to $9.98. Tom withheld the master tapes and threatened to re-title his record "$8.98" in protest. The company decided not to raise the price. The LP cover shows Tom in a record store - an old store which is perhaps selling cheap, used records.

One of Tom's first guitar teachers was fellow Gainesville resident and fellow Elvis Presley fan, Don Felder - who would later join The Eagles.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7018 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

Tom has been married to Dana York since June 3, 2001.

Tom Petty is ranked number 9 on rock.com's top 25 solo rock artists of all time.

"Free Falling" is ranked number 82 on rock.com's top 500 classic rock songs of all time.

Tom Petty guest starred on The Simpsons episode How I Spent My Strummer Vacation.

Tom has made three solo albums. They were Full Moon Fever (1989), Wildflowers (1994) and Highway Companion (2006).

Tom plays 6 and 12 string electric and acoustic guitar, acoustic piano and assorted electric keyboards, bass guitar, harmonica, drums and tambourine.

Tom was hired by ABC to do the music during the NBA Playoffs coverage in 2006.

Tom received a Golden Note Award, for his song writing, from The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) in April of 1996.

Tom has had sixteen Grammy Award nominations since the year of 1981. Out of the sixteen nominations he has received three Grammy Awards. One of the Grammy Awards received was in 1989 for Best Rock Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal for his work he had done with the Traveling Wilburys. His second and third Grammy Awards were received in 1994 for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for the song "You Don't Know How It Feels" and Best Engineered Album which was non-classical.

In 1989, Petty released "Full Moon Fever." Though nominally a solo project, other members of the Heartbreakers and well-known musicians participated in the album's production.

Tom had a small part in the film Made in Heaven with Timothy Hutton and Kelly McGillis. Tom played the character Stanky. Timothy Hutton kept calling him "Stinky". Tom corrects him saying "It's Stanky". Also Ric Ocasek of The Cars and Neil Young have cameos. Tom also has a small role in The Postman starring Kevin Costner.

Tom wrote "Free Girl Now" about his second wife, Dana, and her experiences with a man she used to work for.

The first name of Tom's band was the Sundowners, then the name was changed to The Epics, and then Mudcrutch, and finally the band was known as Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.

In 1961, Tom met Elvis Presley while Elvis was making the movie Follow That Dream in Ocala, Florida. He became an instant Elvis fan.

If you look in the "Playback" booklet, two pages contain pictures of all the singles released since 1993. One of them depicts a "torn" picture of Petty, a guitar case, and the words "Tom Petty: I Won't Back Down" in a sticker similar to the Wilburys' logo.

"Last Night" was the only song on the album Traveling Wilburys: Volume One that Tom Petty was lead vocals for.

Tom was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 (as a member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers).

Tom had two daughters, Adria and Anna Kim, with his first wife, Jane Benyo.

Tom is a rock singer/guitarist, recording and performing solo. He is also the leader of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

15 of Petty's albums have sold more than a million copies.