Thomas Alan Waits, born on December 7, 1949, is an American musician, composer, songwriter, and actor. He sings about the tough parts of life, and his voice is deep and gravelly. In the 1970s, he started with folk music, but from the 1980s onwards, his music mixed rock, country, blues, opera, and more. The Wall Street Journal praised him for creating unique characters in his songs. He was born in California, grew up in a middle-class family, and was inspired by Bob Dylan and the Beat Generation.
Waits married Kathleen Brennan in 1980, moved to New York, and explored new sounds influenced by various genres. He also got into acting and worked on movie soundtracks. He collaborated with Robert Wilson on a “cowboy opera” called The Black Rider. His albums Bone Machine and Mule Variations won Grammy Awards.
Waits has influenced many artists and has a global fan base. His songs have been covered by famous musicians, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. Neil Young introduced him, saying he’s a unique performer, singer, actor, magician, and more. In his acceptance speech, Waits joked about being difficult to work with and having no hits.
In his early years, Waits had a normal childhood but faced challenges like his parents’ separation. He dropped out of high school at 18, worked odd jobs, and played music in San Diego. He became a regular at the Heritage coffeehouse and started singing his own songs. He moved to Los Angeles in 1972, signed with Asylum Records, and released his first album, Closing Time, in 1973. Despite little initial success, he toured and gained recognition. His second album, The Heart of Saturday Night, had a jazzier feel and was better received.
Waits faced audience hostility while touring with Frank Zappa but earned respect in the music industry. He released a live album, Nighthawks at the Diner, in 1975. He continued touring and faced personal challenges, including struggles with alcohol. Despite these difficulties, his unique style and storytelling in songs made him a respected figure in the music world.