Musician. The youngest of ten siblings, he was born Thomas Paulsley LaBeff (after the family name changed from “LaBoeff”). School mates nicknamed him “Sleepy” because of his droopy eyelids. At the age of 21, he recorded his first record on the Starday label in May, 1957. With the rise of rockabilly music in America, he became a pioneer contributor in that genre. When rockabilly ebbed, he broadened his repertoire to include country, blues, gospel, folk, rock and other styles throughout a long and sustained career, including rockabilly's revival and resurgence beginning in the 1970's. Known for his wide musical range and versatility, his playlist included over 6,000 song titles that astounded audiences and supporting musicians alike. An active touring schedule, up to 300 performances annually, along with dozens of albums and singles released through major studios and labels such as Sun, Rounder, Columbia and others kept him playing to audiences across America and Europe for more than six decades. His last performance was in September 2019.
Musician. The youngest of ten siblings, he was born Thomas Paulsley LaBeff (after the family name changed from “LaBoeff”). School mates nicknamed him “Sleepy” because of his droopy eyelids. At the age of 21, he recorded his first record on the Starday label in May, 1957. With the rise of rockabilly music in America, he became a pioneer contributor in that genre. When rockabilly ebbed, he broadened his repertoire to include country, blues, gospel, folk, rock and other styles throughout a long and sustained career, including rockabilly's revival and resurgence beginning in the 1970's. Known for his wide musical range and versatility, his playlist included over 6,000 song titles that astounded audiences and supporting musicians alike. An active touring schedule, up to 300 performances annually, along with dozens of albums and singles released through major studios and labels such as Sun, Rounder, Columbia and others kept him playing to audiences across America and Europe for more than six decades. His last performance was in September 2019.
Bio by: anonymous
Family Members
Half Siblings
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