Leonard Raymond Sipes better known as Tommy Collins, was an American country music

Country music

Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...

 singer and songwriter

Songwriter

A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...

.

Active primarily during the 1950s through 1970s, Collins was instrumental in helping create the Bakersfield sound

Bakersfield sound

The Bakersfield sound was a genre of country music developed in the mid- to late 1950s in and around Bakersfield, California. The many hit singles were largely produced by Capitol Records country music head, Ken Nelson. Bakersfield country was a reaction against the slickly produced, string...

 of the country music genre. He enjoyed a string of hits during the mid-1950s including "It Tickles" and "Watcha Gonna Do Now". He also wrote several songs for other artists, including "If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')

If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')

"If You Ain't Lovin' " the title of a song written by Tommy Collins and originally recorded by country music artist Faron Young...

", which was a top 10 hit for Faron Young

Faron Young

Faron Young was an American country music singer and songwriter from the early 1950s into the mid-1980s and one of its most successful and colorful stars...

 in 1954 and a No. 1 hit by George Strait

George Strait

George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...

 in 1988.

After several years in the ministry, Collins returned to recording. In 1965, he had a comeback hit with "If You Can't Bite, Don't Growl". In the 1970s, he wrote several hits for Merle Haggard

Merle Haggard

Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...

, including the No. 1 hits "Carolyn

Carolyn (song)

"Carolyn" is a 1971 single written by Tommy Collins and recorded by Merle Haggard. "Carolyn" was Haggard's eleventh number one on the U.S. country singles chart. The single stayed at number one for three weeks and spent a total of fifteen weeks on the chart....

" and "The Roots of My Raising

The Roots of My Raising (song)

"The Roots of My Raising" is the title track from Merle Haggard's 1975 album. "The Roots of My Raising" was written by Tommy Collins and would become Merle Haggard's twenty-third number one on the country chart. The single spent one week at number one and a total of ten weeks on the country...

". In 1981, Haggard recorded a biographical tribute to Collins called "Leonard".

Collins was the inspiration and character talked about in Craig Morgan

Craig Morgan

Craig Morgan Greer is an American country music artist. A veteran of the United States Army, Morgan began his musical career in 2000 on Atlantic Records, releasing his self-titled debut album for that label before the closure of its Nashville division in 2000...

's song, "I Wish I Could See Bakersfield"

Collins remained active in the songwriting business. He died March 14, 2000, in Ashland City, Tennessee

Ashland City, Tennessee

Ashland City is a town in Cheatham County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,641 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cheatham County.-History:Ashland City was created in 1856 as a county seat for the newly-established Cheatham County...

.

Albums

Year	Album	US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...	Label
1957	Words and Music Country Style	—	Capitol
1958	Light of the Lord	—
1959	This Is Tommy Collins	—
1960	Songs I Love to Sing	—
1966	Let's Live a Little	—	Tower
	Dynamic	—	Columbia
1968	Shindig	—	Tower
	Tommy Collins on Tour (His Most Requested Songs)	44	Columbia
1971	Callin	—	Starday
1980	Country Souvenir	—	Greenwood
	Cowboys Get Lucky Some of the Time	—
1986	New Patches	—	Password

Singles

Year	Single	US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
1954	"You Better Not Do That"	2
	"Whatcha Gonna Do Now"	4
1955	"Untied"	10
	"It Tickles"	5
	"I Guess I'm Crazy I Guess I'm Crazy "I Guess I'm Crazy" is a 1955 song composed by Werly Fairburn. The song was first recorded in 1955 by Tommy Collins who peaked at number thirteen on the C&W Best Seller chart.... "	13
	"You Oughta See Pickles Now"	15
1964	"I Can Do That" (with Wanda Collins)	47
1966	"If You Can't Bite, Don't Growl"	7
	"Shindig in the Barn"	47
1967	"Don't Wipe the Tears That You Cry for Him (On My Good White Shirt)"	62
	"Birmingham"	60
	"Big Dummy"	52
1968	"I Made the Prison Band"	64

Sources

• [ Tommy Collins] at Allmusic.
• Tommy Collins at CMT.com
  Country Music Television
  Country Music Television, or CMT, is an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming includes music videos, taped concerts, movies, biographies of country music stars, game shows, and reality programs...