Tom Petty, the Iconic Rocker and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, was rushed to the hospital in Santa Monica, California, Sunday night after he was found unconscious and not breathing. He died Monday night of cardiac arrest according to a statement from his manager. He was 66.
Tony Dimitriades, longtime manager of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers announced the Rock Icon’s death in a statement.
“On behalf of the Tom Petty family we are devastated to announce the untimely death of our father, husband, brother, leader and friend Tom Petty.”
“He suffered cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu in the early hours of this morning and was taken to UCLA Medical Center but could not be revived. He died peacefully at 8:40 p.m. PT surrounded by family, his bandmates and friends.”
Petty is best known as the lead singer of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, but is also known as a member and co-founder of the late 1980s supergroup the Traveling Wilburys (under the pseudonyms of Charlie T. Wilbury Jr. and Muddy Wilbury), and his early band Mudcrutch.
Petty recorded a number of hit singles with the Heartbreakers and as a solo artist, many of which are mainstays on adult contemporary and classic rock radio. His music has been classified as rock and roll, heartland rock, and even stoner rock. His music has become popular among younger generations. In his career, Petty has sold more than 80 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. In 2002, Petty was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Rock and Roll has lost one of its greatest artists ever.
Rest in peace, Tom.
