I started playing bass guitar in 1967 at the age of 14. My cousin Tom Stanton and his two neighbors John and Ray needed someone to play bass so I volunteered. We played a lot of songs by the Beatles at first and then moved on like many cover bands did in the sixties learning the hit songs and playing them at gigs.

After a few years, a friend asked me if he can borrow my bass to try out for a rock 'n roll band that was just forming. I said yes, but somehow we both wound up going to the audition. He played well but then he needed a cigarette break. The band was still playing so I picked up my bass and joined in on Lady Madonna. I guess my playing impressed the band members and they asked me if I was available to play with them. I said, "No, that wouldn't be fair to my friend" but they weren't willing to let my friend join the band. So, a week later they asked me again at school if I would join the band. I said, "Only if I speak to my friend first and he has no objections" of course he said, "Go ahead, I don't have a problem with that ... besides I have a few other options myself" and that is how I joined the band. Well, let's say that is how I got my foot in the door. I introduced Vince, the lead guitar player to my cousin Tom and they hit it off well. We were still looking for a drummer, so I invited my neighbor Tom Owens over for an audition. The music just ripped through the neighborhood that day and from that point, all the players were in place and the band became The Lost Souls.

We played together from 1968 to 1970 doing weddings, parties, dances, several Battle Of The Bands, a gig at what resembled The Tonight Show in Pennsauken, NJ where we were billed as a country band even though we played Time Has Come Today with strobes lights all over the place. The biggest crowd we played for was at the Camden Convention Hall with over 8000 people in the audience.

The worse gig was booking us at a Moose Lodge on a Sunday afternoon. That day just happened to be Super Bowl 3 and nobody was interested in hearing us play ... not even during halftime!

Tom Stanton 2/3/51 - 10/22/07