Rock legend Tom Petty has passed away in his Los Angeles home at the age of 66.
"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." his long time manager Tony Dimitriades posted online.
"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 8:40PM PST surrounded by family, his bandmates, and friends."
From the Recording Academy:
We are extremely saddened by the passing of three-time GRAMMY® Award winner Tom Petty. Tom was a true rock and roll purist, both in his music and his defiant spirit. With the Heartbreakers, his infectious riffs, rebellious personality, and inventive songwriting brought a new urgency to rock traditions and fueled a now legendary career and some of the most memorable music of the last four decades. In retrospect, we were so fortunate and privileged to pay tribute to Tom as the Recording Academy’s 2017 MusiCares® Person of the Year, and honor his significant creative achievements, philanthropic efforts, and passion for defending musicians’ rights. Tom will be remembered as much for his humanity as his music. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family, friends, and colleagues as they look to find comfort during this difficult time.
Read more about Tom Petty's legacy, here.