Tommy Collins "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.'" (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." Birth Name: Leonard Raymond Sipes Induction Year: 1999 Date of Birth: 9/28/1930 Place of Birth: near Oklahoma City, OK Date of Death: 3/14/2000 Place of Death: Ashland City, TN Former Occupations: chemist (for 1 year) Southern Baptist Pastor (for 5 years) Education: Grade School--Carson, OK (8 grades) High School--Putman City (1944-1948) College--Central State College (1949-1951) College--Golden Gate Baptist Seminary (1960-1962) College--Sacramento (CA) College (1963) Career Milestones: 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.