Remembering Tom Leadon, Founder With Tom Petty of Mudcrutch

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The reunited Mudcrutch in 2016 (L-R): Randall Marsh, Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Tom Petty, and Tom Leadon

Tom Leadon, was born the fourth of 10 children on September 16, 1952. He became a musician, songwriter, singer and performer, beginning in Gainesville in the late 1960s. His first performing band featured a young Tom Petty, who grew up several blocks away from the Leadon family. That first band evolved into Mudcrutch in 1970, and they played University of Florida fraternity parties, and at Daytona Beach and other venues in North Florida. Tom Leadon left Mudcrutch a year before they signed with Leon Russell’s Shelter Records, when they changed their name to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

One brother, Bernie Leadon, was an original Eagles member. In his early career, Tom Leadon performed publicly with many musicians, including Johnny Rivers, Eagles, the Beach Boys, Martha Reeves, Linda Ronstadt, James Jamerson and Big Mama Thornton. He was a member of the band Silver that released an album in 1976. Petty reformed Mudcrutch in 2008, and again in 2016, releasing two major-label albums with Tom Leadon, Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, and Randall Marsh, each album release followed by a short tour. In recent years, Leadon continued to write new songs and to perform with his band, The Bayjacks.

Tom Leadon died on March 22, 2023, at age 70 of natural causes, though the news wasn’t announced until five days later by another brother, Mark Leadon. “It is with great sadness, but profound love and gratitude for his life, that the family of Tom Leadon (Thomas Joseph Leadon) of Nashville, Tennessee, and Gainesville, Florida, announce his passing on March 22, 2023 peacefully of natural causes.

“Tom Leadon came from a musical family—his father sang in church choir, and his mother played the organ and piano. Besides older brother Bernie, all of his other siblings play and sing folk, bluegrass, country-rock and other musical styles.

“Tom taught guitar while earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida. He was a beloved teacher of guitar for many years in Brentwood, Tennessee, and had many loyal friends wherever he lived. His last residence was in Thompson Station, near Nashville.

“Tom had a friendly and outgoing personality and sharp wit. He was a great and very funny story teller. Tom loved his family and close friends, and all of the Mudcrutch, Tom Petty and Bayjacks fans. He enjoyed meeting and talking with all of you. Thank you for helping make his last years great ones. He was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.”

“A kinder soul never walked the earth,” wrote Mike Campbell in a tribute.

Mudcrutch at NYC’s Webster Hall, June 10, 2016 (Photo © Greg Brodsky)

Watch guest Roger McGuinn join Mudcrutch for “Lover of the Bayou” in New York

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Tom Leadon was my deepest guitar soul brother, we spent countless hours playing acoustic guitars and teaching each other things.
A kinder soul never walked the earth.
I will always miss his spirit and generosity.
Sleep peacefully my old friend.

Mike pic.twitter.com/UfF86HaULp

— Mike Campbell // The Dirty Knobs (@MikeCampbellHQ) March 27, 2023

Petty’s wife, Dana Petty, wrote, “I am deeply saddened and shocked by the news of Mudcrutch guitarist Tom Leadon’s passing. 💔 He spent so much time at our home over the years he became family. He was brilliant and had a memory like no other. He was a fantastic musician as well. I am sending much love to his family. Rest easy, Tommy. Hug my Tommy for me.”

Leadon’s final post on social media was in Nov. 2022, when he shared a video of his performance at a Tom Petty weekend festival in Gainesville in October.

Here’s a video shot by Brien Norton of the first song of my recent show at the Tom Petty Weekend festival in Gainesville, FL.
Such a wonderful event with a great audience! https://t.co/gZlbnn8ozR

— Tom Leadon (@LeadonTom) November 19, 2022