Joe Bob Bryant, was just an average kid out of Gainesville who went on to become one of the most respected Latin percussionists and composers for film, TV and commercial music in the business. This article is about a man so widely honored that he had Alachua County renamed after him and has been immortalized with a scholarship foundation established in his name.
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Gainesville’s Native Son Celebrated With A Weekend Of Music
Tom Petty would have turned 70 this year, and his Gainesville hometown is throwing him a birthday party. The three-day Tom Petty Birthday Bash will feature music from his friends, family and collaborators, as well as never-before-seen archival footage and special guests.
The event will take place October 2-4 at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on the University of Florida campus. It will kick off with a concert featuring Gainesville native and Petty collaborator Mudcrutch, followed by two days of music on multiple stages. Artists scheduled to perform include Tucker Beathard, Benmont Tench, Lucinda Williams, Dhani Harrison, Glen Campbell’s daughter Ashley Campbell, Leon Russell’s wife Jan Bridges, Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench and more.
In addition to the musical performances, there will be panel discussions with Tom Petty’s friends and family, as well as never-before-seen archival footage. Special guests scheduled to appear include Grammy Award-winning producer Rick Rubin (who produced Petty’s final album), former bandmate Howie Epstein’s widow Carol (who will discuss Epstein’s battle with addiction), Rolling Stone editor David Fricke and others.
Gainesville’s musician
Gainesville’s native son, Tom Petty, was celebrated this past weekend with a three-day music festival in his honor. Pettyfest featured over 30 bands from across the country, all playing the hits of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
The festival kicked off on Friday night with a performance by Mudcrutch, Petty’s pre-Heartbreakers band. The rest of the weekend was filled with tributes to Petty, including sets by his daughter Adria and her band, The Dirty Knobs.
Sunday’s headlining set was by The Strokes, who surprised the crowd by covering one of Petty’s most famous songs, “American Girl.” It was a fitting end to a weekend of great music in honor of one of Gainesville’s favorite sons.
Attitude of their day and age
The Gainesville music scene has always been one of the more vibrant in Florida. This is due, in part, to the city’s close proximity to the state’s major universities. However, it is also because Gainesville has produced some of the most well-known musicians in a variety of genres.
This weekend, the city will be celebrating one of its own – Tom Petty. Petty was born in Gainesville in 1950 and went on to become a rock icon, selling more than 80 million records worldwide. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
Although Petty passed away last year, his music continues to live on. This weekend’s celebration will feature live performances from some of Petty’s former bandmates as well as other musicians who have been influenced by his work.
If you’re a fan of Tom Petty or just want to experience some great live music, be sure to check out this weekend’s festivities.
The most famous artist today
There are many great artists who hail from Gainesville, Florida, but none are more famous than Tom Petty. The rock icon got his start in the city in the 1960s, and he went on to achieve international fame with his band, the Heartbreakers. Petty’s career was cut short when he died suddenly in 2017, but his music continues to live on and inspire new generations of fans. This weekend, Gainesville will celebrate its native son with a special event called Tom Petty Weekend. The event will feature live music from some of Petty’s biggest admirers, as well as panel discussions and films about his life and work. If you’re a fan of Tom Petty, or if you’re just curious about one of America’s most iconic musicians, make sure to check out Tom Petty Weekend.
Gainesville’s native son celebrated
Gainesville’s Tom Petty was celebrated this past weekend with a music festival in his honor. Petty Fest featured performances by many of today’s biggest names in music, including Beck, The Killers, and Mumford & Sons. The two-day festival was held at Gainesville’s Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, and all proceeds went to the Tom Petty Scholarship Fund at the University of Florida.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Petty’s death, and fans came from all over to pay tribute to the rock legend. For many, Petty Fest was a chance to see some of their favorite bands while also supporting a good cause. “It’s just an amazing lineup and it benefits a great cause so we couldn’t pass it up,” said one fan.
Fans were also treated to special appearances by Gainesville natives Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench of Petty’s band, The Heartbreakers. Both musicians performed with several of the artists throughout the weekend. “It’s great to see all these people here celebrating Tom’s life and music,” said Campbell. “He would have loved it.”
Conclusion
Gainesville’s Tom Petty Weekend is an annual celebration of the late musician’s birthday, and this year’s festivities were no exception. The three-day event featured a variety of live music from local and national acts, as well as some of Petty’s most popular hits played throughout the weekend. If you’re a fan of Tom Petty or just enjoy good music, then make sure to mark your calendar for next year’s Gainesville Tom Petty Weekend.
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