Tom Petty, American musician, singer and songwriter, has died at the age of 66. The cause of death was cardiac arrest. Petty was taken to the hospital late Sunday night after he was found unconscious and not breathing.
He was born in Gainesville, Florida to Earl and Katherine Petty. At 17, Petty dropped out of high school and joined the band Mudcrutch. He became interested in Rock and Roll at the age of 10 after meeting Elvis Presley.
Petty had two wives and two daughters in his lifetime.
Here’s what you need to know about Petty’s family.
Petty divorced his first wife, Jane Benyo, in 1996.
According to FrostSnow, Petty married his childhood girlfriend, Jane Benyo, on March 31, 1974. He then moved to California to focus on his music career.
Their marriage lasted 22 years, and they have two daughters together, Adria and Kimberly Violette Petty.
Benyo began suffering from mental health issues, leading to an abusive relationship between the two. They divorced in 1996.
Petty married his second wife, Dana York, in 2001.
Petty became addicted to heroin. He tried to hide it from his new love, Dana York. However, York’s father was also an addict, so she knew about the struggle. After Petty finally opened up to her about his addiction, he was hospitalized. During this time, York remained by his side and was known as a saving grace to Petty.
Petty’s daughter, Adria Petty, is a film director.
Adria Petty is an American director and editor, known for her work with Beyonce and Regina Spektor. She is currently signed as Director with Moxie Pictures Production Company.
Petty was abused by his father.
According to Billboard, Warren Zanes’ biography on Petty revealed the abuse he received from his father.
After shooting a slingshot at a Cadillac driving by, Petty was beaten by his father.
“He beat me so bad that I was covered in raised welts, from my head to my toes,” Petty recalled. “I mean, you can’t imagine someone hitting a child like that. Five years old. I remember it so well. My mother and my grandmother laid me in my bed, stripped me, and they took cotton and alcohol, cleaning these big welts all over my body.”
