Tom Keifer Caricature

Tom Keifer Caricature, illustrated here in 2013, age 52 with his 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar, upon the release of his solo album “The Way Life Goes”.

Carl Thomas Keifer, born in Pennsylvania, is an American vocalist and guitarist for the band Cinderella.

Keifer joined his first rock band while in junior high school. He soon learned to play the electric guitar. The young musician struggled with drug and alcohol abuse in high school, and considered dropping out of school to pursue a music career. However, his mother Adrienne bribed her son to stay in school by promising him a Gibson Les Paul guitar upon graduation. Keifer graduated and received the coveted instrument.

Keifer came closer to his dream of being a successful artist by forming the hard rock band, Cinderella with good friend and bassist Eric Brittingham, whom he met on Halloween night in 1980 in a bar bathroom, and also who had been in Saints in Hell. Despite being shy, Keifer took on the role of lead singer because they could not find anyone they liked to sing for the band.
Cinderella was discovered initially by Gene Simmons of Kiss who attempted to get the band signed to no avail.

It was then Jon Bon Jovi in 1985, at the Empire Rock Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that convinced his Mercury A&R manager Derek Schulman to sign the band.

Keifer and company experienced much success with their albums, Night Songs, Long Cold Winter, and Heartbreak Station. Keifer enjoyed the reputation of being a prolific songwriter with hits such as “Shake Me”, ‘”Nobody’s Fool”, “Gypsy Road”, “Don’t Know What You Got”, “Coming Home”, “Shelter Me”, and “Heartbreak Station”.

After the Heartbreak Station tour Keifer lost his voice. He underwent several operations to no avail. Eventually it was determined that he had paralysis of the left vocal cord. Cinderella broke up in 1995.
He was forced to learn how to sing again because of the paralysis of his left cord, but he eventually began working on material for a solo album. The album was put on hold after Cinderella reunited in 1997 and toured in 1998.

Cinderella was the headliner of the 2005 Rock Never Stops Tour. Keifer and Cinderella completed their 20th anniversary tour with fellow rock veterans Poison in 2006, who were also celebrating twenty years in the music business.

In 2013, Keifer released his solo album, “The Way Life Goes” and still tours today. Keifer is married to singer-songwriter Savannah Snow. In February 2004, their first child, Jaidan, was born.