In 1991 I was driving thru Portland Maine and caught a sign saying Sleepy Labeef Live Tonight so I was in the mood to see someone live music. I watched and listened for a while and myself being a performing guitarist and singer carefully absorbed the whole vibe and realized I was witnessing a real pro and band that had character and charisma.
Sleepy's good buddy Rick Klang was thinking about their good times and telling me stories just before he passed. He was looking forward to hanging with Sleepy again.
a legend of the pure rockabilly style has left us but luckily his voice and his interpretations are engraved forever in wax. it's nice to listen to it again, a little boost of nostalgia for an oh so dynamic era..
I'd never seen or heard of Sleepy's music prior to one night maybe 25 or 30 years ago when he happened to play a venue near my home. In the mood for a show I stopped into the Cubby Bear on the North Side of Chicago and was treated to a tremendous show by LaBeef and his band. It was like time-traveling back to the glory days of Sun Records in the 1950s.
The power and presence of Sleepy’s music never quite made it onto his recordings, good as they were... Great memories of hanging with his band at the Hillbilly Ranch (Boston, MA) and lying on the grass at the Hatch shell listening to the master lay down incredible versions of the 5000 songs he knew off the top of his head.
Wow great post. I had been in the Hillbilly a couple of times myself in the past but was too drunk to realize that they actually had live music at the time. A real gritty seedy joint but it gave Park Square some character. all gone now
@@sandsoftime1954 Ha, yeah the Hillbilly was a great place! I couldn't believe it when one of my housemates (a musician) showed it to me and told me about Sleepy, it was like walking into a roadhouse out in the boondocks, but it was right in the middle of Boston! I'd go there every night when Sleepy was playing, but almost never any other time. That's why the band started sitting with me, they probably figured I was a fixture. Met a few women who were, let's say different, from my usual fare... Years later, I'd catch Sleepy at Johnny D's in Davis Square, also closed now. :(
@@ChengManChing A hillbilly bar in a Trailways bus station in the middle of Boston, how bad could it be? Chuckle,chuckle,burp !. I use to like the Teddy Bear too. I was young and crazy and just didn't care. Now I'm old and I still don't care. As far as "those women" go, ahh, different stokes for different folks. I don't take personal inventories. Always nice to talk to another Bostonian. A safe and happy new year to you Cheng!
I remember when I was little and he would get the family together in a little bar in Kilgore to catch up and listen to him and his wife (my mom was his cousin)
Pete Guralnick (rock writer for Rolling Stone and other papers) described Sleepy's voice as the only basso profundo in the history of rock and roll. You really had to see him live to appreciate how powerful it was. And his rockabilly/country blues guitar playing was totally kick ass too.
Ahh Sleepy! Last saw him around 1968 in Sydney. Every young cat ( not poof ) 16-30 wanted to see The Master. He was 100 years old even then and an absolute legend. Came all the way from the Gong to see him! I know, i know, a massive achievement, thank you, but he was worth it! Pete 379.
Sleepy is an exact contemporary of Elvis Presley (born 6 months later in July 1935). He tells a story about loaning Elvis a guitar back before either of them were well known, and getting it back in pretty poor shape.
This guy played at least three or four times a year in a bar around the corner from where I was living at the time. always thought I catch his show soon or later, but I never got around to it. Think I missed out hearing some great music too.
