SiriusXM remembers the life and legacy of music icon Tom Petty

We are deeply saddened at the passing of Tom Petty. SiriusXM has had a long and rewarding creative relationship with Tom, working with him on the creation of his own channel starting in 2015 and before that on his beloved radio show Tom Petty’s Buried Treasure, starting in 2005. Tom was intensely involved in curating and presenting Tom Petty Radio, using his passion and humor to shape one of our most unique music channels. He will be greatly missed but will forever live on through his incredible, timeless music.

-Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer for SiriusXM

Hear music, tributes and commentary on Tom Petty Radio (Ch. 31) from the singer, songwriter and music producer who unexpectedly passed away at the age of 66 on Oct. 2, 2017.

Thomas Earle Petty was born October 20, 1950, and raised in Gainesville, Fla.

Inspired by Elvis and The Beatles, Petty dropped out of high school at age 17 to form the band, Mudcrutch.

After Mudcrutch split, Petty teamed up with guitarist Mike Campbell, bassist Ron Blair, drummer Stan Lynch and keyboardist Benmont Tench to form Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. The band released their debut self-titled album in 1976.

Their second album, You’re Gonna Get It, released in 1978, became the band’s first top 40 album and their third album, Damn the Torpedoes, became a platinum success with songs like Don’t Do Me Like That, Here Comes My Girl and Refugee.

In 1988, Petty joined one of rock’s greatest supergroups The Traveling Wilburys featuring George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne.

Petty released his first solo album, Full Moon Fever, in 1989. The album featured the songs I Won’t Back Down, Free Fallin’ and Runnin’ Down a Dream.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers reformed in 1991 and released Into the Great Wide Open, co-produced by Jeff Lynne. In 2002, the band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Petty began hosting his own show, Tom Petty’s Buried Treasure, in 2005 on XM. In 2015, SiriusXM launched Tom Petty Radio.

Petty was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2016.

Just a week ago, Petty completed the critically acclaimed Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 40th Anniversary Tour at the Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl.