Gatorade became a major success and founded the sports drink line of products because the University of Florida football team needed a better refreshment during hot summer practices, and Tom Petty was a hard drinking traveling salesman's unaccountably artistic son who found his calling when he briefly met Elvis in Ocala and took up rock music. Fans singing Petty's “I Won't Back Down” is now a staple of Florida Gator games.
Yes, to all you said. I don’t know if Tom ever knew that Earl was proud of him, but he was, at least in his later years. I hope Tom and his dad ended up in a “good enough” place in their relationship before his dad passed.
TP and the HB’s songs are so special to me. I feel fortunate that I can still hear his voice on XM 31, listening to him talk on his “Buried Treasure” show. Almost seems like he’s still still with us.
You can imagine I grew up drinking Gatorade. It probably put GVL on the map in a way. They added a Cade Museum to GVL near where I grew up. That area by Depot Ave has changed dramatically since I was there. Dramatically.