Tom Petty, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician whose songs touched generations of fans, died Monday evening surrounded by his family and bandmates. He was 66.

In 1994, Petty and the Heartbreakers played a benefit for the Bridge School in Mountain View, California.

"When I think in my life of all the stages we've been on, this is certainly the most beautiful set I've ever been on – to be up here with these beautiful children," Petty told the crowd.

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Orange Crush event organizer Steven Smalls looks out at Tybee Island's South Beach, site of the 2025 HBCU spring break festival scheduled for April 19 on Georgia's coast. (Justin Taylor/The Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Credit: Justin Taylor for The Atlanta Journal Constitution