Tom Waits Biography (1949-)

Full name, Thomas Alan Waits; born December 7, 1949, in Pomona, CA; son of Frank (a teacher; some sources cite name as Frank W. McMurray) and Alma (a teacher; maiden name, Johnson; some people cite married name as Alma McMurray) Waits; married Kathleen Patricia Brennan (a writer and composer), August 10, 1980; children: Kellesimone Wylder, Casey Xavier, Sullivan.

Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Occupation: Musician, composer, actor, writer
Birth Details: December 7, 1949; Pomona, California, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Stage Appearances
Frank's Wild Years, Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago, 1986
Demon Wine, Los Angeles Theatre Company, Los Angeles, 1989
Film Appearances
Chilly, On the Yard, 1978
Mumbles, Paradise Alley, Universal, 1978
Drunken bar owner, Wolfen, Warner Bros., 1981
Petrified man in carnival, The Stone Boy, 1982
Himself, Poetry in Motion, 1982
Benny, Rumble Fish, Universal, 1983
Buck Merrill, The Outsiders, Warner Bros., 1983
Irving Stark, The Cotton Club, Orion, 1984
Zack, Down by Law, Island, 1986
Al Silk, Candy Mountain, 1987
Rudy, Ironweed, TriStar, 1987
Himself, Big Time, 1988
Kenny, Cold Feet, Avenue, 1989
Silva, Bearskin: An Urban Fairytale (also known as Bearskinand Na pele do urso), 1989
Voice of radio disc jockey, Mystery Train, Orion, 1989
Homeless man in wheelchair, The Fisher King, TriStar, 1991
Monte, Queen's Logic, Seven Arts Pictures, 1991
Plainclothes police officer, The Two Jakes, Paramount, 1991
Singer in bar, Bis ans Ende der Welt (also known as Until the End of the World and Jusqu'au bout du monde), 1991
Wolf, At Play in the Fields of the Lord, Universal, 1991
R. M. Renfield, Dracula (also known as Bram Stoker's Dracula), Columbia, 1992
Earl Piggot, Short Cuts, Fine Line Features, 1993
Coffee and Cigarettes III (also known as Coffee and Cigarettes:Somewhere in California), 1993
Narrator, Guy Maddin: Waiting for Twilight (documentary), Marble Island Pictures, 1997
Dr. A. Heller (weapons designer), Mystery Men, Universal, 1999
Cadillac Tramps, 2000
In the Boom Boom Room, Lions Gate Films, 2000
Song Performer
"An Invitation to the Blues," Bad Timing (also known as Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession), 1980
Title song, On the Nickel, 1980
"Jitterbug Boy," Wolfen, Warner Bros., 1981
"Ruby's Arms," Prenom Carmen (also known as First Name: Carmen), 1984
"Take Care of All My Children" and "Rat's Theme," Streetwise, 1985
"Jockey Full of Bourbon" and "Tango Till They're Sore," Down by Law, Island, 1986
Big Time, 1988
Title song, Sea of Love, Universal, 1989
"Singapore," Bearskin: An Urban Fairytale (also known as Bearskin and Na pele do urso), 1989
"Back in the Good Old World" and "Good Old World," Night on Earth,Fine Line Features, 1991
"Cold Cold Ground" and "Temptation," Leolo, Fine Line, 1992
"The Piano Has Been Drinking," Georgia, Miramax, 1995
"Little Drop of Poison," The End of Violence, 1997
"Somewhere," Afterglow, 1997
"Walking Spanish," Permanent Midnight, Artisan Entertainment, 1998
"Black Wings," Condo Painting, 1999
"Goin' out West," Fight Club, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1999
"Halloween Strip" and "It's Over," Liberty Heights, 1999
"All Stripped Down" and "The Ocean Doesn't Want Me," Maelstrom, 2000
"More Than Rain," Gun Shy (also known as Gunshy), Buena Vista, 2000
Film Work
Song Producer
(And song arranger) "Back in the Good Old World" and "Good Old World," Night on Earth, Fine Line, 1991
"Little Drop of Poison," The End of Violence, 1997
Television Appearances
Series
Fishing with John, Independent Film Channel, 1991
Specials
Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night, Cinemax, 1988
The Best Hotel on Skid Row, HBO, 1990
The Best of Cinemax Sessions, Cinemax, 1990
Red, Hot & Blue, ABC, 1990
Luck, Trust, and Ketchup: Robert Altman in Carver Country (also known as Luck, Trust, and Ketchup), Bravo, 1994
Episodic
Himself, Fernwood 2-Nite, syndicated, 1977
Appeared as a musical guest, Saturday Night Live (also known as NBC's Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night, and SNL), NBC.
RECORDINGS
Albums
Closing Time, Asylum, 1973
The Heart of Saturday Night, Asylum, 1974
Nighthawks at the Diner, Asylum, 1975
Small Change, Asylum, 1976
Blue Valentine, Asylum, 1978

Foreign Affairs, Asylum, 1978
Heart Attack and Vine, Asylum, 1980
Bounced Checks, Elektra/Asylum, 1981
One from the Heart (soundtrack), Columbia, 1982
Swordfishtrombone, Island, 1983
Anthology, Asylum, 1985
Asylum Years, Elektra/Asylum, 1985
Raindogs, Island, 1985
Frank's Wild Years, Island, 1987
Big Time, Island, 1988
Bone Machine, Island, 1992
Night on Earth, Island, 1992
The Black Rider, Island, 1993
The Early Years, Vol. 2, 1993
Beautiful Maladies: The Island Years, Island, 1998
Mule Variations, Epitaph, 1999
Other albums include The Days of Wine and Roses, The Early Years, I Am Seeking Rest for My Lonely Heart, I'll Take New York, Italian Dream, and I Wish I Was in New Orleans/I'll Take New York Part 2. Contributor to recordings by other artists, including Johnny Cash, Primus, the Rolling Stones, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Bonnie Raitt, and Gavin Bryars. Also recorded numerous singles. Other recordings include The Black Rider: Outtakes, Cold Beer on a Hot Night, Downtown Blues, Drunk on the Moon, Every Time I Hear This Melody, The Heart of the Shaboo Night, I'm a Jackoff of All Trades, Invitationto the Blues, I Sing You under the Table, Live in Hollywood, Mainstreet, Mathilda, A Nickel's Worth of Dreams, On a Foggy Night, On Broadway, One Night Stand, Rendezvous at Midnight, Romeo Is Bleeding, Shadows of Intolerance, TV Dinner--Live 1977-1992.
Soundtrack Recordings; Contributor
Bad Timing, 1980
Divine Madness, Warner Bros. Records., 1980
On the Nickel, 1980
Wolfen, Warner Bros., 1981
The King of Comedy, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1983
Prenom Carmen, 1984
Streetwise, 1985
Down by Law, 1986
Ironweed, 1987
Let's Get Lost, 1988
Bearskin: An Urban Fairytale, 1989
Sea of Love, Universal, 1989
(With Kathleen Brennan) American Heart, 1992
Also contributor to In una notte di chiaro di luna (also known asOn a Moonlit Night).
Music Videos
"In the Neighborhood," 1983
"Temptation," c. 1987
"Goin' out West," c. 1993
"I Don't Wanna Grow Up," 1993
"Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet," 1993
"Hold On," 1999
Also recorded the music video "Downtown Train."
Videos
Blow Wind Blow, Island Video, c. 1995
WRITINGS
Plays
(With Kathleen Brennan) Frank's Wild Years, Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago, 1986
Stage Music
Composer and Lyricist
Frank's Wild Years, Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago, 1986
(With William S. Burroughs and Robert Wilson) The Black Rider (opera; based on a German folk opera), produced in Hamburg, Germany, 1990 then Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City, 1994
(With Kathleen Brennan) Alice (opera; based on Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland), produced in Hamburg, Germany, 1992 then Brooklyn Academy of Music, 1995
(With Kathleen Brennan) Woyzeck (based on the work by Georg Bruechner), Betty Nansen Theatre, Denmark, 2000
Screenplays
Big Time, 1988
Film Music
Scores
A Wedding, 1978
Den Tuchtigen Gehort die Welt, 1981
One from the Heart, Columbia, 1982
Streetwise, 1985
Music for "Poor Little Lamb," Ironweed, TriStar, 1987
Candy Mountain, 1987
Wohin?, 1987
Big Time, 1988
Crystal or Ash, Fire or Wind, As Love As It's Love, 1989
In una notte di chiaro di luna (also known as On a Moonlit Night), 1989
Sea of Love, Universal, 1989
Wait until Spring, Bandini, Cine Productions, 1989
(With Kathleen Brennan) Night on Earth, Fine Line Features, 1991
American Heart, 1992
Leolo, Fine Line Features, 1992
Dead Man Walking, Gramercy Pictures, 1995
Smoke (also known as Smoke--Raucher unter sich), Miramax, 1995
Twelve Monkeys (also known as 12 Monkeys), Universal, 1995
Basquiat (also known as Build a Fort, Set It on Fire), Miramax, 1996
Bunny, 1998
The Specialist (also known as Ein Spezialist, Un specialiste, and Un specialiste, portrait d'un criminel moderne), Kino International, 1999
Composer for Generation X; also composer for Yotyo (Finnishfilm; also known as Night Job).
Songs
Bad Timing (also known as Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession),1980
Title song, On the Nickel, 1980
"Shiver Me Timbers," Divine Madness, Warner Bros., 1980
One from the Heart, Columbia, 1982
"Rainbow Sleeves," The King of Comedy, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1983
Prenom Carmen (also known as First Name: Carmen), 1984
Streetwise, 1985
Songs, Down by Law, Island, 1986
Big Time, 1988
"Jersey Girl," Let's Get Lost, 1988
Bearskin: An Urban Fairytale (also known as Bearskin and Na pele do urso), 1989
Night on Earth, Fine Line, 1991
"Jockey Full of Bourbon," Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead,Miramax, 1995
Georgia, Miramax, 1995
Little Criminals, 1995
Smoke (also known as Smoke--Raucher unter sich), Miramax, 1995
"Little Drop of Poison," The End of Violence, 1997
"Walking Spanish," Johnny Skidmarks, 1998
"Walking Spanish," Permanent Midnight, Artisan Entertainment, 1998
"Black Wings," Condo Painting, 1999
"Goin' out West," Fight Club, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1999
"Halloween Strip" and "It's Over," Liberty Heights, 1999
"(Lookin' for) The Heart of Saturday Night," Limbo, 1999
"(Lookin' for) The Heart of Saturday Night," The Perfect Storm, Warner Bros., 1999
End title song, Pollock, Sony Pictures Classics, 2000
Keeping the Faith, Buena Vista, 2000
"More Than Rain," Gun Shy (also known as Gunshy), Buena Vista, 2000
Television Music
Badry's Alibi, [Belgium], 2000
Sheet Music
Tom Waits--Anthology, Amsco Publications, 1988
Tom Waits: Big Time, Amsco Publications, 1988
Sylvia Plachy's Unguided Tour (sheet music and interviews), Aperture (New York City), 1990
Tom Waits: Beautiful Maladies, Amsco Publications, 1997

Further Reference

ADAPTATIONS

Tom Waits's music and lyrics formed the basis of a multimedia solo performance, Tom Waits, Me and Dogs by Barbara Baker, performed at Luna Stage Company, Montclair, NJ, 2000.

OTHER SOURCES

Books

Humphries, Patrick, Small Change: A Life of Tom Waits, St. Martin's Press (New York City), 1989, second edition, 1997,

Periodicals

Billboard, March 20, 1999, p. 11
Magnet, June/July, 1999, p. 51
Newsweek, May 10, 1999, pp. 82-83
Rolling Stone, June 24, 1999, pp. 37-40
Village Voice, June 1, 1999, p. 76

Electronic

Tom Waits--Official Site, http://www. fficialtomwaits.com, August17, 2001

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