Tommy Collins
Induction Year: 1999
Birth Name: Leonard Raymond Sipes - TommyCollins
Birth Date: September 28, 1930
Place of Birth: Oklahoma City, OK
Deceased: March 14, 2000
Place of Death: Ashland City, TN
Biography
"My greatest sense of achievement and my proudest moment was my induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, when I received the prestigious award, the 'Manny.'"
(Collins reflecting on other memorable career moments) "Recording my own songs on Capitol and Columbia Records, Buck Owens' album, 'Buck Owens Sings Tommy Collins' (12 songs), Buck Owens playing lead guitar for me at the Ryman, as well as on several of my recordings on Capitol Records."
(On his Hall of Fame induction) "It's one of the best thrills of my life. To be elected to the (Nashville Songwriters) Hall of Fame is certainly beyond anything else."
Former Occupations: | Education: |
Discography / Career Highlights
Early 1950s--worked on the radio series, "Town Hall Party"
1953--first recorded for Capitol Records
1954--appeared at Ryman Auditorium, performing self-penned songs, "You Gotta Have a License" and "You Better Not Do That"
1954--voted "Most Promising Artist in the U.S.A."
1955--first major hit, "If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Living)," recorded by Faron Young (same song went to #1 in 1988 for George Strait)
1958--appeared at the Ozark Jubilee
1964--joined Buck Owens' show
1977--made an appearance on the Louisiana Hayride
Awards:
1954--BMI Award\You Better Not Do That
1955--BMI Award\Whatcha Gonna Do Now
1972--BMI Award\Carolyn
1977--BMI Award\The Roots Of My Raising
Catalog Highlights:
"The Roots Of My Raising" - Artists: Merle Haggard (1976)
"Carolyn" - Artists: Merle Haggard (1972)
"You Gotta Have a License" - Artists: Tommy Collins (1953)
"You Better Not Do That" - Artists: Tommy Collins (1954), George Hamilton IV
"Whatcha Gonna Do Now" - Artists: Tommy Collins (1954)
"If You Can't Bite, Don't Growl" - Artists: Tommy Collins (1966)
"If You Ain't Lovin (You Ain't Livin')" - Artists: Faron Young (1955), George Strait (1988)
"New Patches" - Artists: Mel Tillis (1984)
"After All This Time" - Artists: Charley Pride, Mel Tillis
"Goodbye Comes Hard For Me" - Artists: Mark Chesnutt
"Poor Broke Mixed Up Mess Of a Heart" - Co-writer: Merle Haggard, Artists: Rick Trevino, Danni Leigh, Merle Haggard
Comments:
Merle Haggard's song "Leonard," recorded in 1981, was about Collins.