Tom Jans was an American folk singer-songwriter and guitarist from San Jose, California.
10 Facts About Tom Jans
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Tom Jans is perhaps best known for his song "Loving Arms", which was recorded initially by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge, and notably covered by Dobie Gray, Elvis Presley and Petula Clark.
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The son of a farmer, Tom Jans was raised near San Jose.
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Tom Jans's influences ranged from Hank Williams to flamenco to the Beatles.
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Tom Jans studied English literature at the University of California at Davis, but rejected a graduate scholarship to Columbia University to seek a career in music.
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Farina had begun writing new songs and was looking for a partner to perform them with; Tom Jans seemed to be a similar collaborator and the two formed a new duo.
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Tom Jans's first hit as a writer was the song "Loving Arms", initially recorded by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge and then by Dobie Gray and Elvis Presley in 1973.
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However, the record was a commercial failure and Tom Jans opted to relocate to Los Angeles.
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Tom Jans suffered serious injuries, especially to his kidneys, in a motorcycle accident in 1983.
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Tom Jans died at age 36 of a suspected drug overdose in 1984.