Tom Waits

Description of Tom Waits' Work: Contemporary folk, folk-rock, blues

Comparisons: The first person that comes to mind in comparing Tom Waits is Leonard Cohen. Other comparable artists include Bob Dylan, Howlin' Wolf, Frank Zappa, and Townes Van Zandt.

Recommended CDs by Tom Waits: Blue Valentine (Elektra, 1978)
Swordfishtrombones (Island, 1983)
Orphans (Anti, 2006)

Tom Waits Biography: Tom Waits was born in California in 1949 to two teachers. His parents divorced when he was 10 years old, and Tom began teaching himself how to play piano. By the time he was 16, he had joined an R&B band. He joined the U.S. Coast Guard briefly, before moving to Los Angeles, where he began pursuing a musical career. He signed a contract with Bizarre/Straight records in 1971 and started recording demos, then switched to Asylum Records the following year.

Throughout the 70s, he developed a decent following, spent a lot of time on the road, and developed into a bit of an alchoholic. He appeared in a movie with Sylvester Stallone, and later wrote music for other films.

He married Kathleen Brennan in 1980, with whom he began writing music, and moved to Island Records a few years later. Known for his low, gritty voice and for being musically adventurous, Tom Waits is one of the most respected songwriters in contemporary folk music.

In all, Waits has released 20 albums and contributed his talents to more than 50 films.