Tom Keifer

Leading Cinderella as its frontman, Tom Keifer directed the hair metal outfit into tougher, blues-infused realms, a creative choice that set the act apart from contemporaries. Two major successes arrived for the group with "Nobody's Fool" in 1986 and "Don't Know What You Got (Til It's Gone)" in 1988, though throat complications soon hampered Keifer and curtailed Cinderella's momentum through the 1990s. Once healed, the vocalist sustained leadership of the band across changing lineups until 2013, when he began a solo path with The Way Life Goes.

Springfield, a Philadelphia suburb, was the birthplace of Tom Keifer, who picked up the guitar in childhood. Blues drew his interest, while hard rock offered escape amid a difficult youth. After finishing high school, his mother presented him with a Les Paul guitar, prompting him to join multiple bands. Addiction struggles persisted until he overcame them and focused on songwriting, which led to the formation of Cinderella alongside bassist Eric Brittingham.

Initial interest came from KISS' Gene Simmons, yet efforts to advance the band stalled. Jon Bon Jovi became the decisive supporter after catching a performance at Philadelphia's Empire Rock Club and persuading Derek Shulman to secure a Mercury/Polygram contract.

Cinderella issued four Mercury albums spanning 1986 to 1994, the first pair—Night Songs (1986) and Long Cold Winter (1988)—each attaining triple platinum status, while singles "Nobody's Fool" (1986) and "Don't Know What You Got (Til It's Gone)" (1988) approached the Billboard Top 40. Songwriting acclaim grew for Keifer, especially as heavier blues elements surfaced on 1990's Heartbreak Station. Vocal cord paresis soon emerged, prompting multiple surgeries before sufficient recovery enabled the 1994 release Still Climbing.

Mercury parted ways with Cinderella following Still Climbing, ushering in an unsettled phase. A 1998 U.S. tour produced the 1999 live album Live at the Key Club while the band sought new representation. Sony signed them in 1999 only to drop the act prior to any release, sparking litigation. Periodic touring continued independently and on multi-act bills until a 2008 vocal cord hemorrhage interrupted activity; a year later Keifer recovered and the group resumed the road.

Performances persisted through 2013, the year Keifer issued his solo debut The Way Life Goes. With that album behind him, he phased out Cinderella to emphasize solo work, which yielded a 2017 deluxe edition of The Way Life Goes followed by Rise in 2019.