Thomas Petty grew up in Gainesville, Florida. One of the most enduring performers in rock 'n' roll, Petty began playing with local bands while in his teens. He left high school to tour with his country-influenced rock band Mudcrutch. While Mudcrutch never made it big, it did contain some of the future members of the Heartbreakers, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench. Petty joined with Campbell, Tench, Ron Blair and Stan Lynch in 1975 to form Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The following year, the band released their first self-titled album, which featured two popular tracks: "American Girl" and "Breakdown."

After resolving some legal and financial problems in the 1970s, Tom Petty continued on his path to musical stardom. The band's third album, Damn the Torpedoes, went platinum due in part on the success of such singles as "Don't Do Me Like That" and "Refugee." Petty also sang a duet with Stevie Nicks, "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around," for her album Bella Donna, with the Heartbreakers lending their musical talents to the track.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers found more success with their next two albums Hard Promises and Long After Dark. The next album didn't come together as easily. Southern Accents =took three years to make, during which time Petty punched a wall and broke his hand, allegedly out of frustration. Petty and the Heartbreakers later toured with Bob Dylan, serving as his band.

Petty soon took a break from the Heartbreakers and put out his first solo album Full Moon Fever in 1989. The album sold more than 3 million copies and scored hits with "Free Fallin'," "Runnin' Down a Dream" and "I Won't Back Down."

Reunited with the Heartbreakers, Petty and the band achieved commercial and critical success with Into The Great Wide Open. Petty continued to divide his time between recording with the band and his solo efforts, producing several more albums. His next solo album, 1994's Wildflowers, was considered one of his strongest recordings by critics. It has a laid-back, melancholy feel to it with the title track and "It's Good to Be King." Petty won the 1995 Grammy Award for best male rock vocal performance for "You Don't Know How It Feels."

In 2001, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were recognized for their contributions to music with their induction into the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame. The following year, the group released The Last DJ, which criticized the music industry.

In 2006, Petty released the solo album Highway Companion to mostly positive reviews, with "Saving Grace" making an appearance on both the rock and pop charts. That same year, Petty played several concert dates with the Heartbreakers in celebration of their 30-year anniversary as a group. It was also in 2006 that Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers headlined the fifth annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.

In 2008, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performed during the Super Bowl halftime show. Two years later, in 2010, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers announced that they would be releasing a new album—their first studio project in eight years— entitled Mojo, along with a summer tour. In 2013, Petty and his bandmates returned to perform at Bonnaroo once again.

Petty has two daughters with his first wife, Jane Benyo. He married second wife Dana York in 2001.

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