Exploring the Life and Career of Tom Petty: A Rock Legend

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The Life and Career of Tom Petty

Updated 12:42 AM EDT, Tue October 3, 2017

Petty kicks off his band's summer tour in 2014.
Petty kicks off his band’s summer tour in 2014.
Rock legend Tom Petty died Monday, October 2, after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu, California.
Rock legend Tom Petty died Monday, October 2, after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu, California.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers pose for a backstage portrait in August 1977.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers pose for a backstage portrait in August 1977. The band from Gainesville, Florida, released its debut album in 1976, with notable songs such as “American Girl” and “Breakdown.”
Petty sits at a table in his New York hotel room in October 1977.
Petty sits at a table in his New York hotel room in October 1977.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform on 'Saturday Night Live' in November 1979.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in November 1979, shortly after releasing their album “Damn the Torpedoes,” which featured hits like “Refugee” and “Don’t Do Me Like That.”
A day after performing on 'SNL,' Petty performs at the Palladium in New York.
A day after performing on ‘SNL,’ Petty performs at the Palladium in New York.
Petty performs at a concert in Santa Cruz, California, in 1980.
Petty performs at a concert in Santa Cruz, California, in 1980.
Petty poses for Rolling Stone magazine in 1982.
Petty poses for Rolling Stone magazine in 1982.
Petty performs with Bob Dylan in Chicago in July 1986.
Petty performs with Bob Dylan in Chicago in July 1986.
Petty and the Heartbreakers have put out more than a dozen studio albums together.
Petty and the Heartbreakers have released more than a dozen studio albums. Additionally, Petty has three solo albums.
Petty performs in the San Francisco Bay Area in October 1991.
Petty performs in the San Francisco Bay Area in October 1991. That year, he and the Heartbreakers released their album “Into the Great Wide Open,” which included the hit single “Learning to Fly.”
Petty signs autographs after his band got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in April 1999.
Petty signs autographs after his band received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in April 1999.
Petty performs at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee, in June 2006.
Petty performs at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in June 2006.
Petty, center, poses with other members of the Traveling Wilburys.
Petty, center, poses with other members of the Traveling Wilburys, a supergroup featuring Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, George Harrison, and Roy Orbison.

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