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Tom Waits
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In 1973-75, Tom Waits toured to support "Closing
Time," and his second album, "Heart of Saturday Night," opening for Frank
Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, John Hammond, Roger McGuinn, and Martha Reeves. During
this period, he also dated singer Rickie Lee Jones, who would later have a hit in the
1980’s with "Chuck E.’s in Love." In 1978, Waits composed music for
and made his acting debut in Sylvester Stallone’s Paradise Alley, a sideline career
that led to later roles in Rumblefish, The Outsiders, The Cotton Club, The Fisher King,
Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Short Cuts, and others. The acting no doubt expanded
Waits’ creative horizons, and his lyrical imagery reflected it.
Waits watchers agree that the most notable change to Tom Waits’ music came after 1980
when he married Kathleen Brennan, a former story editor he’d met while composing the
soundtrack for Francis ford Coppola’s "One from the Heart" (which was later
nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score). Not just a muse, she’s also
an active |
collaborator and
shares co-writing credit on many of the songs Waits has released since that time. But the
music that resulted on "Swordfishtrombone" was a little too left of center for
his label’s taste, so he left and signed to Island Records, who released the album in
1983. This and subsequent albums received very little airplay but were part of a creative
renaissance for Waits that brought new critical acclaim, as well as the respect of his
peers.
In 1993 Tom Waits "Bone Machine" won a Grammy award for Best Alternative Album.
He continues to write and release music for his own albums, as well as soundtracks
including Dead Man Walking and The End of Violence. He also continues to act, write
musical plays, and does concerts benefiting many causes, notably the victims of the L.A.
Riots in 1992. Tom Waits resides in Northern California with his wife and three children.
(Update 11/19/04: Tom Waits' Real Gone was released on Anti Records
in 2004)Discography
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