Tom Leadon | |
|---|---|
 Leadon in 2016, performing with Mudcrutch | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Thomas Joseph Leadon (1952-09-16)September 16, 1952 Rosemount, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Origin | United States |
| Died | March 22, 2023(2023-03-22) (aged 70) |
| Genres | Rock |
| Occupation | Guitarist |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Formerly of | Mudcrutch |
Thomas Joseph Leadon[1] (/ˈlɛdən/LED-ən; September 16, 1952 – March 22, 2023) was an American musician. He was one of the founding members ofTom Petty's original band,Mudcrutch, and remained its guitarist following its revival in 2007. He was the brother ofBernie Leadon, the former banjoist and guitarist of theEagles.[2]
In high school, Leadon was a member of the Epics inGainesville, Florida, where he met Petty. Leadon was the leadguitarist and Petty playedbass. Soon after forming Mudcrutch, with Randall Marsh on drums, the group added a second lead guitarist, Mike Campbell. Leadon and Campbell shared lead guitar solos during Mudcrutch's live shows in and around Gainesville, and also on their recording of "Up in Mississippi".
Leadon left Mudcrutch in 1972[3] and moved toLos Angeles, following in the footsteps of his older brother Bernie, who had recently formed the Eagles withRandy Meisner,Glenn Frey, andDon Henley. Leadon also played bass inLinda Ronstadt's band, and in 1976 joined the country-rock bandSilver, which had atop 40 hit the same year with "Wham-Bam".
In 1975, the Eagles recorded one of Leadon's original songs, "Hollywood Waltz", and released it on theirOne of These Nights LP. The final version of the song is credited to Tom Leadon, Bernie Leadon, Frey, and Henley.[4] Later that yearBuck Owens released his own version.
Leadon later became a guitar teacher inNashville.[2]
In 2007, Petty reformed Mudcrutch, which had broken up in 1975. The band recorded aself-titled debut album in 2008. Recording personnel included original band members: Petty, Leadon,Mike Campbell, and Randall Marsh. Also in this version of Mudcrutch wasBenmont Tench, who had been originally brought into the band when Leadon left in 1972.[3] The band went on to continue being intermittently active with touring, and recording a live album and a follow-up to their debut withMudcrutch 2, in 2016. Petty died in 2017, bringing Mudcrutch's operations to a close.
In a biography,Conversations with Tom Petty, Petty credits Leadon with inspiring him to move to L.A. to try to make it as a musician.
Leadon died on March 22, 2023, at the age of 70.[5]
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