Tom Petty has jumped to the top of the iTunes charts in the wake of his sudden death at the age of 66.
The musician passed away at 8.40pm on Monday night in Los Angeles after suffering a devastating cardiac arrest the previous evening.
The rock star’s music has since flooded the charts, with his 1993 compilation album, Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers Greatest Hits, shooting straight to number one.
Cream of the crop: Tom Petty has jumped to the top of the iTunes charts in the wake of his sudden death at the age of 66
Within 24 hours of the news breaking, he had 15 albums jump into the top 100 – six of them in the top 15.
On top of that, almost one in five songs on the top 100 singles chart – 19 in total – were by Petty and his band.
His signature tune Free Fallin’ contradicted itself and reaching highest, at number six.
The Rock and Roll legend died at 8.40 pm on Monday in Los Angeles while surrounded by his family, friends, and bandmates, according to his longtime manager Tony Dimitriades.
Sad news: The musician (pictured on September 11) passed away at 8.40pm on Monday night in Los Angeles after suffering a devastating cardiac arrest the previous evening
Not free fallin: Within 24 hours of the news breaking, he had 15 albums jump into the top 100 — six of them in the top 15
The move came after tests confirmed the lead singer had no brain function on Monday morning, hours after he suffered a devastating cardiac arrest.
The veteran star had been found unconscious and not breathing at his Malibu home on Sunday night, as first reported by TMZ.
Responding to a 911 call, emergency services resuscitated Petty before rushing him to hospital in nearby Santa Monica.
Los Angeles police initially confirmed Petty’s death to CBS News on Monday, but was forced to issue an apology as the singer had not yet died.
Remembered: His 1993 compilation Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers Greatest hits shot to number one on the albums chart
Hours later it was confirmed by multiple sources he had passed away after being removed from life support.
TMZ reported that the singer had a current Do Not Resuscitate order and both his family and a chaplain were at his bedside when life support was removed.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall Of Famer Petty first found fame in the 1970s with his band releasing hits including Breakdown, American Girl, The Waiting, Free Fallin’, Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around and Listen to Her Heart.
He had success both as part of The Heartbreakers – with whom he worked on and off for 40 years – and as a solo artist.
The final picture: Petty, front right, seen backstage before his final performance at the Hollywood Bowl last week
As he was: Petty seen performing in Britain back in 1978
He also formed part of the 1980s supergroup the Traveling Wilburys alongside Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison.
Petty continued to work as a popular musician up until his death.
His most recent album, 2014’s Hypnotic Eye, was the first Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers to top the charts in the U.S.
The artist had just completed a 40th anniversary 53-date tour with The Heartbreakers, winning rave reviews with his final performance at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles last week.
He is survived by his second wife Dana York Epperson, and his two daughters Adria, 42, and AnnaKim, 35, from his 22-year first marriage to his teenage sweetheart Jane Benyo.
Flooded: Almost one in five songs on the top 100 singles chart — 19 in total — were by Petty and his band