Tribute to Tom Petty

Learning To Fly

Illustration/Rendering  Poster Art.  2018

Thomas Earl Petty born October 20, 1950 was from Gainesville, FL.  Tom was an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor.  His music was his life and he was loved and respected among his fellow musicians as the dynamic frontman for The Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Band formed in 1976.  In his earlier years he led the band Medcrutch, and later on in his career in the 1980’s he was a member of the supergroup the Traveling Wilburys.

Bob Dylan tells Rolling Stones “I thought the world of Tom.  He was a great performer, full of the light, a friend, and I’ll never forget him…”

In an interview with Rolling Stones Tom said, “although this might be my last tour around the country it’s not my intention to quit playing.  I need something to do, or I tend to be a nuisance around the house.”

The majority of Petty’s albums have been certified either gold or platinum.  In 2002 Tom Petty was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Tom Petty’s hit songs have defined rock since the 70’s of which he never stopped writing music.  His devoted fans adored him and his band all over the world.  In 2006 in an interview with Esquire he defines himself in this way quote, “What’s changed these days is that the man who approaches me on the street is more of less thanking me for a body of work - the soundtrack to his life, a lot of them say.  And that’s a wonderful feeling.  It’s all an artist can ask…”

Gone too soon… 

Thank you Tom for your incredible contribution to humanity…

A4H Arts4Humanity (For The Benefit of All)

Rendering by illustrator Donna Massa

Graphic Design & Lettering by musician Jeff Hayford