Carl Thomas Keifer was born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 1961. Tom grew up in a musical family and began playing guitar at a young age. As Tom entered his teenage years, he discovered rock bands such as Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, and Bad Company. Tom was interested to know what kind of music influenced these bands, therefore, he did some research by finding and listening to old blues records by Johnny Winter, Muddy Waters, and B.B King. Soon, Tom fell in love with the blues and was influenced heavily by this kind of music.
Tom joined his first rock band while in junior high school. He learned to play the electric guitar. Tom also struggled with drug and alcohol abuse during this time, and he considered dropping out of school to pursue a music career. However, Tom’s mother Adrienne convinced her son to stay in school by promising him a real Les Paul guitar upon graduation. Tom persevered and graduated. After graduating, Tom played guitar in bands such as Saints in Hell, Telepath, and Diamonds. At this time, Tom was often so destitute that he was forced to eat out of restaurant trashcans and live in his car to survive. He also pilfered corn from a nearby cornfield. Despite living a life of poverty, Tom remained focused, and said that “there wasn’t ever a point when I wanted to quit…even when I was living in a car eating grits.”
A clean Tom began to focus seriously on working towards a career as a musician. He started writing original material. He also found financial support by walking racehorses at tracks and by delivering film to developing outlets. Tom became closer to his dream of being a successful artist by forming Cinderella with good friend and bassist Eric Brittingham, whom he met at a bar on Halloween night, 1980. Soon, Brittingham joined Saints in Hell. Despite being shy, Tom took on the role of lead singer because they could not find anyone that they liked to sing for the band. Tom said that he knew he could sing, but “I didn’t know how good I could be” (Guitar, 1988). Tom has said, “I don’t feel comfortable when I’m up there singing and not playing guitar. I feel naked when it’s just me and the microphone” (Metal Edge, 1986).
Jon Bon Jovi discovered Cinderella in 1985, at the Empire Rock Club in Pennsylvania. Jon has been quoted as saying “I saw Tommy Keifer onstage…delivering some pretty nifty, growling vocals. Then he whipped out this Les Paul…and proceeded to lay into some astounding sounds. This guy struck me as a star right then and there." The band changed their line-up a few times, and soon consisted of Tom, Eric, and guitarist Jeff LaBar, and drummer, Fred Coury. Tom’s fiancée at the time, Emily Pember, designed the band’s unique logo. Tom and company experienced much success with their albums, ''Night Songs'', ''Long Cold Winter'', and ''Heartbreak Station''. Tom also 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.”
Unfortunately, after a break in the Heartbreak Station tour Tom found that he had lost his ability to sing. Many doctors told him it was all in his 'head'. Later, he underwent several operations to no avail. Eventually, it was determined that he had nodules on his cords, and paralysis of the left cord. To make matters worse, his beloved mother died of cancer. By 1994, Tom and Cinderella had managed to release their fourth album, ''Still Climbing'', which sadly received little attention. The band broke up in 1995.
Tom continued to have surgery to repair his voice. He also battled depression. He was forced to learn how to sing again because of the paralysis of his left cord. Tom eventually began working on material for a solo album. He and his wife divorced, and he soon settled in Nashville, Tennessee. Here, he continued to work on his solo album. The album was put on hold after Cinderella reunited in 1997 and toured in 1998. They soon signed with Sony records but were dropped a few years later, and are still in litigation with them.
Tom is married to songwriter Savanna Snow. Tom and Savanna worked with country artist Andy Griggs. Tom and Andy also performed at the Grand Ole Opry together in November of 2002. In February 2004, Tom and Savanna had a son, Jaidan.
Tom also appeared on an episode of Extreme Makeover, where he helped a fan write a song. In 2005, Tom donated his Platinum award for “Long Cold Winter” to help raise money for hurricane victims. He also donated a guitar. Several thousand dollars was raised from these auctions. He also produced some bonus tracks on Bo Bice's (of American Idol) album. Tom is also expected to release a solo album in 2006. He was also interviewed recently for John Corabi’s autobiography.
Additional facts about Tom:
As a child, Tom had a variety of pets. These included a Dalmation, guinea pig, doves, rabbits, mouse, and a Cockapoo. Later, he had many cats.
Tom's favorite subject in school was Social Studies.
Some of 'little' Tom's nicknames included, "Buck"..."Bucky"... and "Byron."
Tom earned the money for his first electric guitar by mowing his neighbors' lawns. He was in the third grade.