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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZCOLLINS, Tommy(b Leonard Raymond Sipes, 28 September 1930 Bethany OK; d 14 March 2000) Country singer '50s, became a clergyman '58, re-entered music as a songwriter '60s. A contract with Capitol '53 led to up-tempo novelties such as 'You Better Not Do That' '54, 'It Tickles' '55; he also wrote hits for others: 'If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin' ' (Faron Young), 'You Gotta Have A Licence' (Porter Wagoner). He was influential in West Coast country music, as later was Buck Owens, a member of Collins's band. Signed with Columbia '65, had hits 'If You Can't Bite, Don't Growl' '66, 'I Made The Prison Band' '68. Owens made LP Sings Tommy Collins; Merle Haggard recorded hits 'The Roots Of My Raising', 'Sam Hill', 'Carolyn' (no. 1 '72), also wrote a tribute to Collins called 'Leonard'. LPs included This Is Tommy Collins '55, Words And Music Country Style '56, Light Of The Lord '59, all on Capitol; Let's Live A Little '66 on Tower, The Dynamic '67 on Columbia, Country Souvenir '81 on G&W, New Patches '86 on Ragged but Right, and Leonard '93, a boxed set on Bear Family. |