10 Amazing Musicians We Lost In The 2010s
4. Tom Petty (1950-2017)
Many people think of Tom Petty as one of the forefathers of heartland rock, but the man was so much more than that. Like his contemporaries Bruce Springsteen, Petty started out as a working class kid. By the time he was 30 years old, he had turned himself into one of the greatest singer-songwriters of his time.
Petty also made a point to stand up for the injustices present in the music industry. When record prices were being brought up, Petty insisted that his music would not be out of the price range of his hardcore fans.
As he continued making records, he made a deliberate point to hone his songwriting skill. It also didn't hurt that he had friendships with great songwriters like George Harrison and Jeff Lynne from ELO. It is an incredible feat that though Petty came to prominence in the 1970's, some of his most successful works were being made in the 1990's. As he continued to make fantastic records, Petty became one of the most respected figures in the music industry, admired by artists as diverse as Johnny Cash and Eddie Vedder. Though he is not with us anymore, Petty stands as an example of an American Dream, going from a small family in Florida to being beloved by the masses.