Tom Petty was born in Gainesville, Florida, on October 20, 1950. He was one of three children of Kitty and Earl Petty. His father was a prominent insurance salesman in the area. Tom’s musical interest began early. At the age of eight, he received his first guitar as a Christmas present from his uncle. Tom quickly learned to play it and by the time he was thirteen, he had started his first band. He created the band “Mudcrutch” early in his life.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers became one of the most successful rock bands of all time. They released their debut album in 1976 and went on to produce hits like “American Girl,” “Breakdown,” and “The Waiting.” Tom Petty also found success as a solo artist with hits like “Free Fallin’” and “Into the Great Wide Open.”
Tom Petty’s connection to Gainesville went beyond his birthplace. A bit of area trivia is that his X wife bought his childhood home. He was a longtime supporter of the University of Florida football team. In fact, Tom Petty Day will be celebrated on October 15, 2022, which is also the date of the annual UF-LSU game. So if you’re ever in Gainesville on Tom Petty Day, make sure to join in the fun and celebrate one of Gainesville’s most famous sons!