Tom Waits

Tom Waits is an American Singer-Songwriter, composer and actor who is known for his distinctive growling vocals and experimental musical tastes.

After learning piano at an early age, Waits began by playing gigs in the San Diego and Los Angeles areas. After signing to Asylum Records in 1972, he released his debut album Closing Time. While not an immediate success, many of the songs on the album were covered by other artists, including The Eagles and Tim Buckley. His next three albums solidified his sound earned him a growing legion of fans and admirers. Waits' sound began to shift in the 1980s as he began to experiment with using unorthodox instruments, darker themes, theatrical flourishes and guttural vocals. Besides music, Waits has also explored a varied career as an actor and has been featured in a number of films.