Born and raised in Gainesville, Tom Petty would have celebrated his 76th birthday on October 20th. Many Floridians know his music career well. However, many may not know the regal meeting that inspired it.
At age 10, Petty's uncle took him to Ocala, where Elvis “the King” Presley was filming Follow That Dream in 1961. Petty met Elvis, an encounter that helped inspire his musical ambitions.
By age 13, Petty had received his first electric guitar. He formed a band called the Sundowners, which won a local Battle of the Bands competition at the Moose Club. By age 15, he was already performing professionally.
Gainesville eventually renamed the park where he played as a child Tom Petty Park, dedicating it on his birthday in 2018.