1949	Born Thomas Alan Waits on December 7 in Pomona, California
1959	Parents divorce. Moves to National City
1959-68	School. Learns Piano at neighbours. Learns to play Gibson Guitar.
1968-70	Works at Napoleone's Pizza, admires Bob Dylan.
1971-73	Moves to Tropicana Motel, Santa Monica Blvrd, LA. Signs with Herb Cohen. Writes and records material later released as The Early Years Vol 1 and 2.
1973	Closing Time released
1973-74	Tours. Opens for John Hammond, and Frank Zappa
1974	Heart of Saturday Night released.
1974-75	Touring. Opens mainly for Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention, but also for Roger (Jim) McGuinn, and Martha Reeves. Nighthawks at the Diner (Live) Released. Dates Rikki Lee Jones.
1976	Small Change released
1976-77	Touring. With Martin Mull. British debut at Ronnie Scott's.
1977	Foreign Affairs released.
1977-78	Touring. USA then Europe.
1978	Blue Valentine released Movie debut as 'Mumbles' in Paradise Alley. Also composed music.
1978-80	Touring extensively. Canada, USA, and Australia. Some shows with Leon Redbone, and at least one with Mink Deville. Establishes theatrical stage presence.
1980	Started working with Francis Ford Coppola on the soundtrack to 'One From The Heart' in an office at Zoetrope. Heart Attack & Vine released August. Married Kathleen Brennan. Honeymooned in Tralee, Co. Kelly, Ireland
1980-82	Touring extensively. Canada, USA, Ireland, UK, Europe. Cameo appearance in Wolfen in 1981
1982	Soundtrack and Cameo in One From The Heart. Nominated for an Academy Award for best original score. Played petrified man in carnival in The Stone Boy.
1983	Swordfishtrombones released Played Buck Merrill in The Outsiders Played Bennie the pool hall owner in Rumble Fish
1984	Played Irving Stark in The Cotton Club
1985	Raindogs released Composed songs for Streetwise Raindogs tour. Canada, USA, but mainly Europe.
1986	Starred as Zack in Down by Law Summer. Theatrical debut. Three month run as Frank in Frank's Wild Years at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater.
1987	Big Time tour. Extensive tour from March til December. USA, Canada and Europe. Frank's Wild Years released. Played Rudy The Kraut in Ironweed Played Al Silk in Candy Mountain
1988	Big Time released. Live CD. Movie and Video Guested on Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night
1989	Played the 'Punch & Judy Man' in Bearskin: An Urban Fairytale Starred as Kenny the Hitman in Cold Feet Voice of the radio DJ in Mystery Train Composer on Sea of Love
1990	Music and Lyrics for the stage play of The Black Rider in Hamburg in March. Played a plainclothes policeman in The Two Jakes
1991	Played Wolf in At Play in the Fields of the Lord Played a disabled Veteran beggar in The Fisher King Wrote the score of Night on Earth (With Kathleen Brennan) Played Monte in Queens Logic
1992	Bone Machine Released Composer (With Kathleen Brennan) on American Heart Played R.M. Renfield in Bram Stoker's Dracula Won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album (for Bone Machine) Wiltern Benefit for the riot victims of the Los Angeles unrest Composed Music and Lyrics for stage production of 'Alice' in Hamburg (With Kathleen Brennan)
1993	Black Rider released Appeared in conversation with Iggy Pop in Coffee and Cigarettes: Somewhere In America Played Earl Piggott in Short Cuts
1996	Played the Paramount and Healdsburg benefit concerts for Don Hyde Played at the John Huston Award for Artist's Rights show honoring Martin Scorsese Composer on soundtrack of Dead Man Walking Composer on soundtrack of The End of Violence