Who Is Dana York, Tom Petty's Wife?
Legendary music artist Tom Petty has passed away Monday after suffering from cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu. He was 66.
In an official statement, Tony Dimitriades, long-time manager of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, revealed that the singer was taken to the UCLA Medical Center but "could not be revived." Dimitriades said the rocker "died peacefully" surrounded by his family, his bandmates and friends.
Petty was best known for his time with the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers formed in the 1970s, but he was also a successful solo artist with hits like "American Girl," "Refuge" and "I Won't Back Down."
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He was also a co-founder of the Traveling Wilburys group in the late 1980s, where he played with fellow musical legends like Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne. Petty recently wrapped up a nationwide tour a week before his death.
Petty was married to Dana York, who was the one who called 911 for help after she found him unconscious. In the call, as per Irish Times, she told the dispatcher he was not breathing and was instructed to do CPR on him.
York and Petty met during one of his concerts in Texas back in 1991. However, she was married to her first husband at that time, but got the chance to reconnect with him five years later after her marriage ended.
According to Bustle, York is credited by Petty as the one who ultimately helped him turn away from his drug addiction as she stood by him when he went to therapy. She also ultimately pushed him to improve his relationship with his children again.
Petty and York exchanged vows in 1996 in Las Vegas after he did consecutive sold-out gigs there. It was a small ceremony attended by a few friends and family. In 2001, the couple did the second and much bigger wedding ceremony at their home in Malibu.
When news broke about Petty's death, tributes were overflowing from Dylan, Sir Paul McCartney, Carole King, Cyndi Lauper and Brian Wilson.
