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Tom Waits.

June 21st 2007 00:37

Tom Waits
.

Stretching his talent

"Champagne for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends." – Tom Waits

Keeping the beat poet movement of the 1950’s alive, cult jazz and blues vocalist, composer and songwriter Tom Waits has never desired commercial success. His unique, graveled voice the product of too much smoke and booze is instantly recognizable to fans.

Singing on the wrong side of the tracks

Reflecting the atmosphere of seedy dives and underground bars his introspective lyrics and monologued banter are melancholy poetry. Employing obscure instruments from yesteryear like 1940’s megaphones, he often visits hardware stores and constructs his own contraptions in a continuing quest for original sounds.

In one ear, out the other

Born in California in 1949, it was in the 1970’s that Tom’s passion and talent for music led him to record his first Album “Closing Time”. Starting a trend that would continue till this day, it wasn’t until a more prominent artist, The Eagles did a cover version of the song “Ol 55” that he gained some attention. (Songs like “Jersey Girl” by Bruce Springstein and "Downtown Train" by Rod Stewart are two more celebrated tunes that were his.)

Pounding the ivories

Performing his eclectic live shows, he quickly developed a loyal following with his combination of spoken word interludes, ode to hard living and laid back instrumental accompaniment.

High on life? Probably not.

Near the end of the decade he also began acting, making his first appearance on screen in the Sly Stallone vehicle Paradise Alley. Since then he has turned up in over 20 films, notably Jim Jaramusch’s Mystery Train, Down by Law and Coffee and Cigarettes.

Sharing sensabilities with Jim Jaramusch

Working with Director Francis Ford Coppolla early on he began scoring movies and has compiled soundtracks for several films including One From the Heart and, Night on Earth.

Turning something old, new.

Keeping the beatnik dream alive and refusing to compromise his artistic integrity, Tom Waits is a musos, musician he is revered by those in the industry, loved by those in the know and has received endless tributes and accolades from peers. Strongly opposed to selling out, he has repeatedly sued advertisers who try to use his songs to peddle their wares and has little respect for those that do.
"Apparently the highest compliment our culture grants artists nowadays is to be in an ad—ideally naked and purring on the hood of a new car, I have adamantly and repeatedly refused this dubious honor.” – Tom Waits

Tipping of the hat

His latest release was Orphans; Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards in 2006 which was a combination of old classics and fresh new tracks. Proving that you don’t need radio air play and one dimensional music videos to maintain a level of success, Tom Waits is an exceptional talent that does what he does with style that’s his own.