Does anyone remember Tommy Collins?!
Question:
Does anyone remember Tommy Collins?
Answers: I AGREE WITH DWIGHT... HE WAS-IS REGARDED AS A WONDERFUL FRIEND-MENTOR OF THE GREAT MERLE HAGGARD!!! HE WROTE A FEW SONGS FOR HIM ALSO INCLUDING CAROLYN...HE EVEN PERFORMED MERLE'S MARRIAGE TO HIS CURRENT WIFE THERESA!
I'VE KNOW MERLE FOR OVER A DECADE NOW AND HAVE NEVER KNOW HIM TO BE A WEAK MAN AND HAVE NEVER KNOW HIM TO CRY ABOUT MUCH OF ANYTHING..BUT IT BROUGHT HIM TO HIS KNEES AND HE JUST LOST IT WHEN TOMMMY"LEONARD" COLLINS DIED! MERLE STILL TALKS ABOUT HIM TODAY WITH A TEAR IN HIS EYE...THERE IS A WONDERFUL TRIBUTE TO TOMMY COLLINS ON A MY SPACE ACCOUNT RAN BY A DEAR FAMILY MEMBER OF TOMMY'S! I'm not sure of the first name but would he have played a concert with George Jones in the 70's? I vaguely remember a song about a monkey or something. He did a lot of writing and producing songs more than recording them, but he was a decent singer anyway. Sure do. One of the founders-along with the also overlooked Wynn Stewart-of the Bakersfield sound. Also remember his first lead guitar player-Buck Owens. Most of my knowledge of Tommy Collins come from hearing the story a number of times about Merle Haggard's song "Leonard", which was actually Tommy's life story, as I recall. I also saw a story about him (Tommy) on TV once - seems he was a Christian, spent some of his life in turmoil, and then turned back to the Lord.
Quite a story.