From: "Dik de Heer" Date: Sat Jul 20, 2002 2:19 am Subject: Born To Be With You : Sleepy LaBeef SLEEPY LABEEF Born Thomas Paulsley LaBeff, 20 July 1935, Smackover, Arkansas Sleepy LaBeef is/was one of the best rockabilly musicians around. The tall (6 foot 7) singer has heavily lidded eyes which make him appear half-asleep, hence his nickname. He was raised on a melon farm and was influenced by both country and blues music. LaBeef moved to Houston at age 18 where he worked at several odd jobs before beginning to sing gospel music on local radio shows. Eventually, he formed his own band and began playing rockabilly and straight rock & roll during the 1950s. He made his first recordings in 1957 on Starday and subsequently recorded on many different labels where he used his own name or sometimes appeared as Tommy LaBeff. He moved to Nashville in 1964 and one year later signed to Columbia. In 1969 he signed with Shelby Singleton's Plantation label in 1969 and finally began having more success. His third single, "Blackland Farmer", penned by Frankie Miller, spent four weeks on the Cash Box country charts in 1971. He moved with Singleton to Sun Records in the mid-'70s and continued releasing rockabilly singles such as "Thunder Road, " "There Ain't Much After Taxes", and "Boogie Woogie Country Girl." La Beef is more popular in Europe than in the U.S. and has appeared at England's Wembley Festival twice. He signed to Rounder in 1981 and released It Ain't What You Eat (It's the Way You Chew It) in the U.S. and in Europe. The towering baritone LaBeef made his movie debut as a swamp monster in The Exotic Ones. LaBeef returned to regular recording in the mid-'90s, signing with Rounder Records and releasing Strange Things Happening in 1994, followed by I'll Never Lay My Guitar Down in 1996. Four years later, he issued Tomorrow Never Comes. In early 2001, Rockabilly LaBeef was released. More info: http://www.rockabillyhall.com/SleepyLB.html and http://www.westword.com/issues/1999-12-02/music.html Official homepage: http://www.sleepylabeef.com/ Further reading: Peter Guralnick, Lost Highway (Boston : Godine, 1979), page 163-175. CD's: SLEEPY LABEEF, Larger Than Life, Bear Family BCD 15662. This 6 CD set includes his early recordings for Starday, Dixie and other small Texas labels, all his Columbia recordings from 1965-1969 and all his Sun recordings from 1970 to 1979. Includes more than 30 previously unissued songs or alternate takes. A 28-page booklet includes notes, discography and rare and previously unpublished photos. I'll Never Lay My Guitar Down (Rounder, 1996). Probably the best of his more recent albums.