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Tom Waits

Tom Waits
Photo: Spotify

About

Tom Waits (born December 7, 1949, Pomona, California) is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor whose gravelly voice and Beat-inflected storytelling have made him one of the most distinctive figures in American music. His 17 studio albums span jazz-tinged piano balladry, experimental noise, Delta blues, and vaudeville, consistently chronicling the lives of drifters, outcasts, and the urban poor. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 and has won two Grammy Awards. Alongside his music career, he has appeared in films by Jim Jarmusch, Francis Ford Coppola, and the Coen Brothers.

2.25M
Facebook page likes
2×
Grammy Awards won
4.6M
Albums sold in the US (as of 2011, Nielsen SoundScan)
17
Studio albums released

What's new

  • 2026-04

    Tom Waits and Massive Attack released the protest single 'Boots on the Ground', Waits' first original music since 2011, with a B-side spoken-word track 'The Fly' exclusive to the vinyl release.

  • 2026-03

    Waits was announced as a contributor to '20th Century Paddy - The Songs of Shane MacGowan', a tribute album due November 13, 2026, marking his first new studio recording since 2018.

  • 2025

    Waits appeared in the final episode of Italian public broadcaster RAI3's documentary series 'The Human Factor', reading from his poetry book 'Seeds On Hard Ground' and performing songs.

  • 2025-10

    Waits announced a 50th-anniversary reissue of his 1975 live album 'Nighthawks at the Diner', available for pre-order.

  • 2024-08

    Waits released 'Get Behind the Mule (Spiritual)', a stripped-down Wurlitzer-accompanied version of the track, to mark the 25th anniversary of the album 'Mule Variations'.

Tracks

Tom Traubert's BluesFrom 'Small Change' (1976); one of his most covered songs, also known as 'Waltzing Matilda'.
Downtown TrainFrom 'Rain Dogs' (1985); became a global hit when covered by Rod Stewart in 1989.
Jersey GirlFrom 'Heartattack and Vine' (1980); famously covered by Bruce Springsteen.
Hold OnFrom Grammy-winning 'Mule Variations' (1999); nominated for Best Male Rock Performance.
Boots on the GroundCollaboration with Massive Attack, released April 2026 - his first original music since 2011.

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