Tom King
DOB Unknown – April 23, 2011
Tom King was the founder and lead guitarist of the Outsiders, a Cleveland, Ohio rock band that scored a huge hit with 1966’s “Time Won’t Let Me.” King co-wrote the song which went on to define the era and is generally included in any respectable ’60s rock compilation. Originally formed in 1958 as Tom King and the Starfires, the band ultimately signed to Capitol Records and changed their name to the Outsiders at the request of the label to sound more like the British Invasion bands of the mid ’60s. Unlike many of their peers, the band quickly became one of the scenes best live acts thanks to their years performing R&B standards as the Starfires. After a series of line-up changes and singles that didn’t perform as well as King had hoped, the band broke up in 1968. The group reformed with different line-ups in later years. In ailing health, Tom King passed away in a nursing home on April 23, 2011. He was 68.
Tom u will b missed. I remember u and ur family. I was a friend of eddies. RIP and play on.
I meet Tom in the fall of 1958 – where he had just started a band – he caled´ : Tom King and the Starfires, – shortly after i became a member of that band. —- We plaied together untill I had to leave in The fall of 1966 do to a nervus breakdown. — So I was with The Outsiders the first year – if we count the fall of 1965 when we cut “Time won´t let me” and up to the last part of october 66 – when my helth forsed me to leve the band. — It was with great regret that I had to leave, – but life dos not always turn out the way you whant. — It was with sadnes I heard Tom pased away. – Cause He, – Don and I – started it all —– wish I could have been there to the finish <3 🙂 — it shure have left me with a lot of wonderfull memories the 13 years I lived in the US, — and the musik we made and plaied was the biggest part of it all. —- Let the music go on " The Outsiders 4 ever <3<3<3