Tom Waits
American singer-songwriter with a gravelly voice and eclectic style.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Thomas Alan Waits was born on December 7, 1949, in Pomona, California, and grew up in Whittier. His lyrics dig into the underbelly of society, delivered in a famously deep, gravelly voice. One critic described that voice as sounding like it had been soaked in bourbon, smoked, and then run over by a car. Waits started out in the 1970s folk scene, but after the 1980s his music drew from rock, jazz, Delta blues, opera, vaudeville, cabaret, funk, and experimental styles bordering on industrial. Another critic called him a sympathetic chronicler of the adrift and downtrodden, creating three-dimensional characters capable of insight even in their confusion.
Waits came from a middle-class family. His father, a Spanish teacher and an alcoholic, was a tough outsider; his mother managed the household. The family lived on Kentucky Avenue in Whittier, a setting that looms large in his memories. Inspired by Bob Dylan and the Beat Generation, he started singing on the San Diego folk circuit. He moved to Los Angeles in 1972, worked as a songwriter, and signed with Asylum Records. His debut album *Closing Time* came out in 1973, followed by *The Heart of Saturday Night* (1974) and *Nighthawks at the Diner* (1975). He toured the U.S., Europe, and Japan, finding greater success with *Small Change* (1976), *Blue Valentine* (1978), and *Heartattack and Vine* (1980). In 1978 he entered film, where he met Kathleen Brennan. He worked with Crystal Gayle on the soundtrack for Francis Ford Coppola’s *One From the Heart* (1982) and appeared in several Coppola films.
In 1980, Waits married Brennan, split from his manager and record label, and moved to New York City. With Brennan’s encouragement, he pursued a more experimental sound influenced by Harry Partch and Captain Beefheart, heard on the loose trilogy *Swordfishtrombones* (1983), *Rain Dogs* (1985), and *Franks Wild Years* (1987). In 1990 he collaborated with theater director Robert Wilson on the musical *The Black Rider*, releasing the songs as an album. They reunited for the musicals *Alice* (1992) and *Woyzeck* (2000), with songs released on the albums *Alice* and *Blood Money* in 2002. He won Grammys for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Contemporary Folk Album for *Bone Machine* (1992) and *Mule Variations* (1999). Later releases include *Real Gone* (2004), the compilation *Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards* (2006)
- born
- December 7, 1949
- field
- Singer, songwriter, composer, actor
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Deep, gravelly voice; lyrics about society's underbelly; eclectic musical style
Lore & Background
Tom Waits was born into a middle-class family in Pomona, California, and moved to Whittier in 1949. His family lived on Kentucky Avenue, a pivotal setting for his memories. Inspired by Bob Dylan and the Beat Generation, he began singing on the San Diego folk circuit. He moved to Los Angeles in 1972, working as a songwriter before signing with Asylum Records. His debut album was Closing Time (1973), followed by The Heart of Saturday Night (1974) and Nighthawks at the Diner (1975). He found greater critical and commercial success with Small Change (1976), Blue Valentine (1978), and Heartattack and Vine (1980). In 1978, Waits entered the world of film, where he met Kathleen Brennan.
Reader's Guide
Tom Waits is significant for his distinctive vocal style and his role as a chronicler of the adrift and downtrodden. His music evolved from folk into a blend of rock, jazz, Delta blues, opera, vaudeville, cabaret, funk, and experimental industrial techniques. With his wife Kathleen Brennan's encouragement, he pursued a more eclectic sound on albums like Swordfishtrombones (1983), Rain Dogs (1985), and Franks Wild Years (1987). He collaborated with theater director Robert Wilson on musicals including The Black Rider, Alice, and Woyzeck. Waits won Grammys for Bone Machine (1992) and Mule Variations (1999). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. His songs have been covered by Bruce Springsteen, Tori Amos, Rod Stewart, and the Eagles, and he has written songs for Johnny Cash and Norah Jones. Waits has not toured since 2008 and has not issued a new album since 2011, though he continues to make isolated appearances and act in offbeat character roles.
Did You Know?
- Waits was born on December 7, 1949, in Pomona, California.
- His father taught Spanish and was an alcoholic.
- He dropped out of high school in 1968 at age 18.
- He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tom Waits?
Tom Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor born on December 7, 1949, in Pomona, California. He is widely recognized for his extraordinarily deep, gravelly vocal tone and for crafting songs that center on society's forgotten and struggling characters.
What makes Tom Waits's voice so distinctive?
His voice is famously deep, rough, and heavily textured, giving every line a worn, almost physical quality. One critic compared it to a sound that had been soaked in bourbon, smoked, and then run over by a car.
What genres does Tom Waits draw from in his music?
Although he emerged from the 1970s folk scene, his later work weaves together rock, jazz, Delta blues, opera, vaudeville, cabaret, funk, and experimental or near-industrial textures. This breadth makes him difficult to categorize within a single genre.
What themes do Tom Waits's lyrics typically explore?
His songs consistently spotlight the underbelly of society—drifters, outcasts, and working-class figures living on the margins. He is often described as a sympathetic chronicler who renders these characters with three-dimensional depth and dignity.
How did Tom Waits's musical style evolve over his career?
He started in the folk tradition during the 1970s, but from the 1980s onward he increasingly incorporated jazz, blues, cabaret, and experimental sounds. This shift carried him far from his early roots and into a more theatrical, genre-defying territory.
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