Tom Waits

Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, composer, and actor. Known for his deep, gravelly voice, his lyrics often explore the lives of marginalized and overlooked individuals. Beginning in the folk scene of the 1970s, Waits’ music has since incorporated influences from rock, jazz, Delta blues, opera, vaudeville, cabaret, funk, and experimental techniques. Waits was born in Pomona, California, and later moved to Whittier, where his early experiences on Kentucky Avenue shaped much of his later work.