Cinderella managed to put a track, "Hot and Bothered," on the chart-topping Wayne's World soundtrack, released in February 1992, but otherwise the band was out of commission for an extended period of time. Keifer was forced to undergo two throat operations, followed by extensive therapy. Doctors initially were unable to figure out what was wrong, but a specialist finally diagnosed paresis of the laryngeal nerve controlling the left vocal cord. leg of the Heartbreak Station tour had ended and the band was gearing up to go to Japan in 1991, Keifer woke up one morning and found he couldn't sing. Coury departed, and Cinderella initially replaced him with Kevin Valentine, then hired noted session drummer Kenny Aronoff temporarily before bringing in Kevin Conway. More disturbing than this mild commercial disappointment, however, were problems within the band. Leadoff single "Shelter Me" peaked at number 36 in February, and the title song reached number 44 in April. Although it was a hit out of the box, going gold in January 1991 and platinum in February, the album encountered more resistance than the band's previous efforts, peaking at number 19, with no multi-platinum certifications forthcoming. "The Last Mile," released in December, peaked at number 36 in March 1989 "Coming Home," released in March, hit number 20 in June and "Gypsy Road," finally put on 45 a year after the release of Long Cold Winter in July 1989, and backed by a live version of the Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash," got to number 51 in September.Īgain, Cinderella came off the road and spent a year crafting its third album, Heartbreak Station, which appeared in November 1990. (It was certified triple platinum in January 1997.) As the group continued to tour relentlessly through 19, Mercury broke more singles from the LP. The album reached number ten in September, the same month it was certified gold and platinum simultaneously, with a double-platinum certification following in November. Instead the power ballad "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)" was released as a single in August, and it peaked at number 12 in November.
Radio initially focused on the track "Gypsy Road," giving it a Top 20 ranking in the Album Rock Tracks chart, but Mercury did not release it as a single at first (although in the U.K., where it was released as a single, it charted). Having broken through to popular success with Night Songs, Cinderella returned with their second album, Long Cold Winter, in July 1988. (The album was certified triple platinum in May 1991.) In April, Mercury released a third single, "Somebody Save Me," which peaked at number 66 in May. Its success further stimulated sales of the album, which was certified platinum in December 1986 and broke into the Top Ten by the end of the year it peaked at number 3 in February 1987, and that same month was certified double platinum. That month, Mercury released a second single, "Nobody's Fool," accompanied by a music video that earned play on MTV it broke into the charts in November and peaked at number 13 in February 1987. On October 1, the album was certified gold. It broke into the Billboard chart in July, and the track "Shake Me," although it failed to chart as a single, got enough radio attention to turn up on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart in August. The LP was not an immediate success, but it gained momentum gradually while the band toured extensively as an opening act to promote it. Shortly after its completion, Cortez left the band and was replaced by Fred Coury (born October 20, 1964). Their debut album, Night Songs, was released in June 1986. He was sufficiently impressed to alert his record company, Mercury, which signed the band. Insisting on playing original material, they performed in clubs and bars in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and in 1985 Jon Bon Jovi caught one of their shows. Cinderella then added drummer Jody Cortez and continued as a four-piece. Guitarist Michael Kelly Smith and drummer Tony Destra were also early members of the band, but they left in 1985 to form Britny Fox. But they continued to tour regularly well into the 21st century.Ĭinderella was founded in Philadelphia, PA, in 1983 by singer/songwriter/guitarist/keyboardist Tom Keifer (born January 26, 1961) and bassist Eric Brittingham (born May 8, 1960), who quickly added lead guitarist Jeff LaBar (born March 18, 1963).
CINDERELLA BAND PROFESSIONAL
By the mid-'90s, the group's mass popularity had subsided due to professional setbacks and perceived changes in taste.
CINDERELLA BAND SERIES
Hard rock band Cinderella gained success in the mid-'80s, turning out a series of million-selling albums and hit singles while placing music videos in heavy rotation on MTV.