By Guest Blogger and Music Critic Holden Hartle
This is the story of a boy who grew up to be one of the greatest rockstars to ever live. I feel very thankful that I was able to see him in concert before he passed. This man was a blessing to the music world and to anyone who heard his music.
He started in Gainesville, Florida. His father was abusive, but he found a safe haven with music. He dropped out of high school at the age of seventeen to pursue a career with his band at the time, Mudcrutch. The band moved to Los Angeles but fell apart shortly after. However, after hearing a demo that his former bandmates made, they rekindled the fire of making music under the new name, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Front man Tom Petty played a beautiful twelve-string guitar and had the perfect raspy voice for the era. After the not-so-great sales of their first album, they opened for Nils Lofgren. Within weeks they were headlining and their album was on the British charts. The Heartbreakers were gaining momentum amongst the music world. This momentum led to great success in their next few albums.
While making their sixth studio album, which took three years, Petty was frustrated because he couldn’t think of any lyrics to write. So, he punched the nearest wall, breaking his left hand. Apparently, something clicked. The album featured the song “Don’t Come Around Here No More,” which became a number thirteen hit on the charts.
Finally, in 1989, Tom Petty came out with the solo album entitled, Full Moon Fever. This song features the classic Petty song that everyone can sing along to, “Free Fallin’.”
Tom Petty gave the world some of the most beautiful songs the world has ever heard. Songs like “American Girl,” “I Won’t Back Down,” and of course, “Free Fallin’” are songs which everyone can appreciate, no matter what generation. He will forever be missed. Rest in peace, and thank you, Tom Petty.
Editor: Peter Kadel
Sources referenced:
https://www.biography.com/people/tom-petty-201299
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/tom-petty/biography
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