Post by Rob Durkee on Apr 26, 2011 20:21:15 GMT -5
By ROCKIN' ROBIN
Tom King, the guitarist for the 1960's Cleveland-based group the Outsiders and who co-wrote the group's breakthrough 1966 hit, "Time Won't Let Me," died Saturday, April 23, 2011, at a nursing home in Wickliffe, a suburb located just east of Cleveland. According to writer Dave Davis of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, King was 68 and had been in poor health in recent years. He was placed in the nursing home last August after hurting himself in a fall.
The Outsiders were the forerunners to Chicago, the Grass Roots and Blood, Sweat and Tears among groups who were powered by a brass-driven sound. Kevin King, Tom's son, said his dad "helped the careers of many local musicians, such as the James Gang's Jimmy Fox and The Secret."
Tom King and his brother-in-law, Chet Kelley, co-wrote "Time Won't Let Me," which reached #6 on the Cash Box pop chart in the spring of 1966. The Outsiders would have three more Cash Box pop chart singles IN 1966 and they all made the Top 40. They were "Girl In Love" (#24), "Respectable" (#13) and "Help Me Girl" (#40). "Respectable" was a remake of an Isley Brothers' hit. The Outsiders had other regional hits such as "Gotta Leave Us Alone" in 1967.
"Help Me Girl" was a hit nationally also for the Animals, reaching #33 on the Cash Box pop chart. The Outsiders' version was a huge hit in the Boston market, according to John Gorman, who grew up in Boston and would became a highly successful Program Director for WMMS/Cleveland. "The Outsiders were a very successful group in my hometown of Boston because of Capitol (Records) promo rep Al Coury, who took a liking to their sound."
King got the itch for music while a student at East Cleveland Shaw High School, the same high school that pro football running back Tom Matte attended. King was a mere 15 when he formed the Starfires, a/k/a Tom King And The Starfires. In 1965, King formed the Outsiders, who were a continuation of the Starfires. The Outsiders' lineup included lead singer Sonny Geraci, Mert Madsen, Richard Kriss, Al Austin and Ronnie Harkai. Geraci would go on to sing lead for the group Climax, which had a #1 hit on the Cash Box pop chart in early 1972 with "Precious And Few."
Special thanks also to this writer's sister-in-law, Kerry Durkee, for her tipping me off on this passing.
Tom King, the guitarist for the 1960's Cleveland-based group the Outsiders and who co-wrote the group's breakthrough 1966 hit, "Time Won't Let Me," died Saturday, April 23, 2011, at a nursing home in Wickliffe, a suburb located just east of Cleveland. According to writer Dave Davis of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, King was 68 and had been in poor health in recent years. He was placed in the nursing home last August after hurting himself in a fall.
The Outsiders were the forerunners to Chicago, the Grass Roots and Blood, Sweat and Tears among groups who were powered by a brass-driven sound. Kevin King, Tom's son, said his dad "helped the careers of many local musicians, such as the James Gang's Jimmy Fox and The Secret."
Tom King and his brother-in-law, Chet Kelley, co-wrote "Time Won't Let Me," which reached #6 on the Cash Box pop chart in the spring of 1966. The Outsiders would have three more Cash Box pop chart singles IN 1966 and they all made the Top 40. They were "Girl In Love" (#24), "Respectable" (#13) and "Help Me Girl" (#40). "Respectable" was a remake of an Isley Brothers' hit. The Outsiders had other regional hits such as "Gotta Leave Us Alone" in 1967.
"Help Me Girl" was a hit nationally also for the Animals, reaching #33 on the Cash Box pop chart. The Outsiders' version was a huge hit in the Boston market, according to John Gorman, who grew up in Boston and would became a highly successful Program Director for WMMS/Cleveland. "The Outsiders were a very successful group in my hometown of Boston because of Capitol (Records) promo rep Al Coury, who took a liking to their sound."
King got the itch for music while a student at East Cleveland Shaw High School, the same high school that pro football running back Tom Matte attended. King was a mere 15 when he formed the Starfires, a/k/a Tom King And The Starfires. In 1965, King formed the Outsiders, who were a continuation of the Starfires. The Outsiders' lineup included lead singer Sonny Geraci, Mert Madsen, Richard Kriss, Al Austin and Ronnie Harkai. Geraci would go on to sing lead for the group Climax, which had a #1 hit on the Cash Box pop chart in early 1972 with "Precious And Few."
Special thanks also to this writer's sister-in-law, Kerry Durkee, for her tipping me off on this passing.