Thomas Alan Waits born December 7, is an American musician, composer, songwriter, and actor. His lyrics often focus on society's underworld and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice. He began in the folk scene during the s, but his music since the s has reflected the influence of such diverse genres as rock , Delta blues , opera , vaudeville , cabaret , funk , hip hop and experimental techniques verging on industrial music.
A keen, sensitive and sympathetic chronicler of the adrift and downtrodden, Mr. Waits creates three-dimensional characters who, even in their confusion and despair, are capable of insight and startling points of view. Their stories are accompanied by music that's unlike any other in pop history. Tom Waits was born and raised in a middle-class family in Pomona, California.
His first albums were the jazzy Closing Time , The Heart of Saturday Night and Nighthawks at the Diner , which reflected his lyrical interest in poverty, criminality and nightlife.
During this period, Waits entered the world of film, acting in Paradise Alley , where he met a young story editor named Kathleen Brennan. With Brennan's encouragement and frequent collaboration, he pursued a more eclectic and experimental sound influenced by Harry Partch and Captain Beefheart , as heard on the loose trilogy Swordfishtrombones , Rain Dogs and Franks Wild Years Waits starred in Jim Jarmusch 's Down by Law , lent his voice to his Mystery Train , composed the soundtrack for his Night on Earth and appeared in his Coffee and Cigarettes He collaborated with Robert Wilson and William S.
Burroughs on the "cowboy opera" The Black Rider , the songs for which were released on the album The Black Rider. Waits and Wilson collaborated again on Alice and Woyzeck In , the songs from Alice and Wozzeck were recorded and released on the albums Alice and Blood Money.
