As previously reported in sad detail, Tom Petty died on Monday evening at the age of 66.
The rock legend suffered a cardiac arrest and was found unconscious, prior to be taken to the hospital, where he was placed on life support for a few hours before passing away.
Immediately after news of Petty’s death spread, tributes came pouring in; from the music industry and far beyond.
An endless array of people, from all walks of life, were touched by Petty’s memorable songs.
But no tribute compares to that of AnnaKim Violette, the youngest of the late singer’s two daughters.
A mere week ago, Petty took the stage at the Hollywood Bowl in what would end up being his final live show… although no one in the audience, of course, was aware of it at the time.
Violette was in attendance that evening.
And she remembered it ever so fondly in a lengthy Instagram post she shared on Tuesday.
“One week ago today I was watching my dad play. We showed up rushed to our seats,” Violette wrote online, admitting candidly:
“I got stoned had a beer the lights went dark. Sat watching realizing I grew up on these songs. Everyone grew up on these songs.”
She continued, gushing over someone who was both her personal hero and a musical hero to so many fans out there.
“This is real American Art made from the roots of real people who deeply love life,” Violette wrote.
“My father loves music more than anything and always put music first. It’s going to be healing to know I will never go a day without hearing his music.
“I love his class honesty and how strange and funny he is. Tom Petty is an American Icon because his heart has always put human rights first.
“We are one. I love you dad. Your songs are dreams manifested.”
In a second post, Violette chronicled what she referred to as “the longest day of my life,” as her father was being treated at the UCLA Medical Center at Santa Monica.
To feel as close as she could to Petty, she donned a jacket emblazoned with hearts and skulls that he’d made for her many years ago to match his concert ensembles.
Violette completed her social media tributes with a few photos of Petty in his heyday, memorializing her father as “a bad ass motherf-cker” and “magical human” who forever altered the course of American music.
It really is true.
We’re talking about a real legend here.
Following a few premature reports of Petty’s death, the singer’s manager, Tony Dimitriades, released a statement early Tuesday morning explaining that confirmed the worst.
It reads as follows:
On behalf of the Tom Petty family we are devastated to announce the untimely death of of our father, husband, brother, leader and friend Tom Petty.
He suffered cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu in the early hours of this morning and was taken to UCLA Medical Center but could not be revived.
He died peacefully at 8:40 p.m. PT surrounded by family, his bandmates and friends.”