He ended up in Florida, he was seen by a local 10-year-old boy named Tom Petty (b. October 20, 1950). Inspired by the work of the king of rock and roll, the boy immediately took up the guitar and has not parted with it since. At the age of 17, Petty left school and joined the team "Mudcrutch" (in the original "Sundowners"), whose members were two more future "heartbreakers", guitarist Mike Campbell and keyboardist Benmont Tench. Having reached Los Angeles, the group signed a contract, but after the release of only one single, hastily disbanded. For some time, each of the trio tried to work separately, but in 1975 the guys reunited and, together with bassist Ron Blair and drummer Stan Lynch, organized the Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers band. The style of the newborn rock unit was based on country, blues and folk rock and bore the imprints of such artists as Bob Dylan, Neil Young and The Byrds. Debut album The American public initially ignored it, but after the "Heartbreakers" headlined in England, and the record entered the Top 30 there, it was noticed at home as well.

The single "Breakdown" hit the Billboard 40, and the song "American Girl" was picked up by AOR stations. The second album, "You" re Gonna Get It! ", also found itself in the Top 40, but external circumstances prevented success. The Shelter label, on which the group released the first two records, was absorbed by MCA Records, and when Petty wanted to remake the contract, the new owners did not agree to a deal, considering the demands of the musicians exorbitant.

As a result, Tom's group was on the verge of bankruptcy, and only after intense negotiations the team was accepted into the subsidiary of MCA, Backstreet Records. Released in October 1979, Damn The Torpedoes was a significant step forward for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. The song "Don" t Do Me Like That" struck the top ten, not far behind the composition "Refugee" (15th place), and the album itself stood for seven weeks on the second step of the "Billboard". "MCA" decided to hit the extra jackpot with the release of "Hard Promises. However, Petty again got involved in a dispute with the label and this time came out the winner, leaving the price of the album at an average level. The fourth full-length also gained platinum status, and the most famous thing from it became the opener of "The Waiting" In 1982, Ron Blair was replaced by Howie Epstein, and the voice of the new bassist immediately became an integral part of the "Heartbreakers" vocal harmonies.

The album "Long After Dark" brought the team another hit in the top ten, but in the next program, Tom and the company decided to move away from the corporate identity. Inviting producer Dave Stewart from "Eurythmics" to play the role, the team began experimenting with new wave, soul and neo-psychedelic. However, the musicians did everything with taste, and therefore both platinum and Top 10 for the album "Southern Accents" were provided. In 1986 and 1987, "Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers" worked with Bob Dylan, and the famous folkster later curtsied in return, participating in the recording of the track "Jammin" Me "for the record" Let Me Up (I "ve Had Enough)."

At the end of the decade, the group's studio activities were suspended, although almost all the "heartthrobs" were noted on Tom's solo album "Full Moon Fever". Petty was also involved in the Traveling Wilburys super project, but in 1991 his own team returned with the Into The Great Wide Open program. Here the group came into close contact with Jeff Lynn, inviting him as a producer, and apparently therefore the songs of "Heartbreakers" acquired some similarity with the work of "ELO". The album secured the team on the platinum frontiers, and the Greatest Hits compilation released in 1993 broke all her personal records, dispersing 10 million copies. This compilation completed the team's collaboration with MCA, after which Petty dragged his partners to Warner Bros. In 1994, Tom's second solo album was released, and at the same time, Lynch was replaced by Steve Ferrone, and a little earlier, another one appeared in the team new player– Scott Thurston (guitar, harmonica, synthesizer) If the soundtrack album "She's The One" was a relatively modest success, then the Rick Rubin-produced "Echo" disc still caught on at the end of the top ten.

The Top 10 also included the album "The Last DJ", on which Ron Blair again performed the bass parts. The reason for Howie's resignation was the increased drug addiction, which already in 2003 brought the bass player to the grave. In 2006, Petty, with the participation of Campbell and Lynn, released the third solo album ("Highway Companion"), and four years later the "heartbreakers" returned, pulling the album "Mojo" out of the studio. The disc was released under the banner of "Reprise Records" and was an attempt by the band to get closer to the standards of southern jam blues rock.

In 1961, when Elvis Presley was in Florida, he was seen by a local 11-year-old boy named Tom Petty. Inspired by the work of the king of rock and roll, the boy immediately took up the guitar and has not parted with it since. When Petty was kicked out of school, he finally got down to business and put together his first team called the Sundowners. After a series of personnel changes... Read all

In 1961, when Elvis Presley was in Florida, he was seen by a local 11-year-old boy named Tom Petty. Inspired by the work of the king of rock and roll, the boy immediately took up the guitar and has not parted with it since. When Petty was kicked out of school, he finally got down to business and put together his first team called the Sundowners. After a series of personnel changes and several signage changes, the group acquired the name "Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers", a contract with the label "MCA Records" and the classic line-up: Benmont Tench (b. September 7, 1953; keyboards), Mike Campbell (b. February 1, 1950 ; guitar), Ron Blair (b. September 16, 1948; bass), Stan Lynch (b. May 21, 1955; drums) and Tom Petty (b. October 20, 1950; vocals, guitar).

This configuration produced four albums, including the critically acclaimed Damn the torpedoes.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Among the "gold tracks" of that period there were such things as "American girl", "Breakdown", "Listen to her heart", "Refugee", "I need to know", "Don't do me like that". The accompanying "Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers" success very quickly brought the team from small clubs to big venues. In 1982, Ron Blair left the band and was replaced by Howie Epstein under the patronage of Del Shannon. The new bass player turned out to be a worthy replacement, and his masterful playing and backing vocals only increased the appeal of the Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers concerts. With his participation, a series of successful albums was recorded, including the classic "Long after dark".

In 1991, the band added guitarist Scott Thurston, and in 1994, the Heartbreakers were left without a drummer as Lynch moved on to other projects. To make up for the loss, Steve Ferrone (b. April 25, 1950), who had previously become famous for his collaboration with Eric Clapton and the Average White Band, was put behind the drum kit.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers solo career and participation in other projects, the most famous of which was "Traveling Wilburys". The year 1993 for the group was marked by the release of the Greatest hits compilation, which also included two new tracks. After this release, Tom Petty moved his team from MCA Records to Warner brothers in a $20 million deal with the new label. In 1996, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers released the soundtrack CD for Edward Burns' She's the One.

The following albums were released with a break of three years. By the time The Last DJ was recorded, Ron Blair had returned to the band after a twenty-year absence. Between sessions for this album, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And in February 2003, the musicians learned the sad news - their former colleague Howie Epstein died of a drug overdose.

Petty has received numerous Grammy Awards, including the 2006 Billboard Music Awards.
In 1999, the group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 2002, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2008, Petty, Tench and Campbell, along with Randall Marsh and Tom Leadon, got together to resurrect Mudcrutch. At the end of the year, they released a self-titled album.
In 2010, the Heartbreakers released a new studio album, Mojo, and went on tour in the spring.

Discography:

1976 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
1978 You're Gonna Get It!
1979 Damn the Torpedoes
1981 Hard Promises
1982 Long After Dark
1985 Southern Accents
1985 Pack up the Plantation-Live!
1987 Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)
1989 Full Moon Fever (Tom Petty solo)
1991 Into the Great Wide Open
1993 Greatest Hits
1994 Wildflowers (Tom Petty solo)
1995 Playback
1996 Songs and Music from "She's the One"
1999 Echo
2000 Anthology: Through the Years
2002 The Last DJ
2006 Highway Companion (Tom Petty solo)
2010 Mojo

In May 2008, Geffen released a remastered edition of the multi-platinum Greatest Hits, replacing "Something In The Air" with a duet with Stevie Nicks "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around".

In 1961, when Elvis Presley was in Florida, he was seen by a local 11-year-old boy named Tom Petty. Inspired by the work of the king of rock and roll, the boy immediately took up the guitar and has not parted with it since. When Petty was kicked out of school, he finally got down to business and put together his first team called the Sundowners. After a series of personnel changes and several signage changes, the group acquired the name "Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers", a contract with the label "MCA Records" and the classic line-up: Benmont Tench (b. September 7, 1953; keyboards), Mike Campbell (b. February 1, 1950 ; guitar), Ron Blair (b. September 16, 1948; bass), Stan Lynch (b. May 21, 1955; drums) and Tom Petty (b. October 20, 1950; vocals, guitar).

This configuration produced four albums, including the critically acclaimed Damn the torpedoes.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Among the "gold tracks" of that period there were such things as "American girl", "Breakdown", "Listen to her heart", "Refugee", "I need to know", "Don't do me like that". The accompanying "Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers" success very quickly brought the team from small clubs to big venues. In 1982, Ron Blair left the band and was replaced by Howie Epstein under the patronage of Del Shannon. The new bass player turned out to be a worthy replacement, and his masterful playing and backing vocals only increased the appeal of the Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers concerts. With his participation, a series of successful albums was recorded, including the classic "Long after dark".

In 1991, the band added guitarist Scott Thurston, and in 1994, the Heartbreakers were left without a drummer as Lynch moved on to other projects. To make up for the loss, Steve Ferrone (b. April 25, 1950), who had previously become famous for his collaboration with Eric Clapton and the Average White Band, was put behind the drum kit.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers In the late 80's and early 90's, Tom Petty combined his work with the Heartbreakers with his solo career and involvement in other projects, the most famous of which was Traveling Wilburys. The year 1993 for the group was marked by the release of the Greatest hits compilation, which also included two new tracks. Following this release, Tom Petty moved his team from MCA Records to Warner brothers, in a $20 million deal with the new label. In 1996, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers released the soundtrack CD for Edward Burns' She's the One.

The following albums were released with a break of three years. By the time The Last DJ was recorded, Ron Blair had returned to the band after a twenty-year absence. Between sessions for this album, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And in February 2003, the musicians learned the sad news - their former colleague Howie Epstein died of a drug overdose.

Petty has received numerous Grammy Awards, including the 2006 Billboard Music Awards.
In 1999, the group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 2002, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2008, Petty, Tench and Campbell, along with Randall Marsh and Tom Leadon, got together to resurrect Mudcrutch. At the end of the year, they released a self-titled album.
In 2010, the Heartbreakers released a new studio album, Mojo, and went on tour in the spring.

Discography:

1976 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
1978 You're Gonna Get It!
1979 Damn the Torpedoes
1981 Hard Promises
1982 Long After Dark
1985 Southern Accents
1985 Pack up the Plantation-Live!
1987 Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)
1989 Full Moon Fever (Tom Petty solo)
1991 Into the Great Wide Open
1993 Greatest Hits
1994 Wildflowers (Tom Petty solo)
1995 Playback
1996 Songs and Music from "She's the One"
1999 Echo
2000 Anthology: Through the Years
2002 The Last DJ
2006 Highway Companion (Tom Petty solo)
2010 Mojo

In May 2008, Geffen released a remastered edition of the multi-platinum Greatest Hits, replacing "Something In The Air" with a duet with Stevie Nicks "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around".