Tom Araya
Tom Araya | |
|---|---|
%22%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22middle%22%20fill%3D%22%2354595d%22%20font-size%3D%2216%22%20font-family%3D%22sans-serif%22%3EAraya%20performing%20with%20Slayer%20in%202016%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fg%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E) Araya performing with Slayer in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Tomás Enrique Araya Díaz June 6, 1961 Viña del Mar, Chile |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Thrash metal |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instruments |
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| Years active |
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| Member of | Slayer |
| Website | slayer |
Tomás Enrique "Tom" Araya Díaz (Spanish: [tom aˈɾaʝa]; born June 6, 1961) is a Chilean-American musician, best known as the vocalist and bassist of the thrash metal band Slayer. He was ranked 58th by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time, and 42nd on Loudwire list of the 66 greatest Hard Rock / Metal Frontman of All Time List. Araya, along with Kerry King, are the only members who stayed in the band since its inception, winning two Grammy Awards and selling 20 million albums worldwide.
Araya was employed as a respiratory therapist in the early 1980s and used his earnings to finance Slayer's debut album Show No Mercy (1983). Much of Araya's lyrical content is about serial killers, a subject he finds interesting; his first credited lyrical contribution was the vampire-themed track "At Dawn They Sleep" from 1985's Hell Awaits.