Tommy Collins - You Better Not Do That (1954)

US C&W Charts No. 2 (20.02.1954) 21 Weeks

Leonard Raymond Sipes (September 28, 1930 – March 14, 2000), better known as Tommy Collins, was an American country music singer and songwriter.

Active primarily during the 1950s through the 1970s, Collins was instrumental in helping create the Bakersfield sound 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')", which was a top 10 hit for Faron Young in 1954 and a No. 1 hit by George Strait 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 and The Strangers, including the No. 1 hits "Carolyn" and "The Roots of My Raising". In June 1980, Haggard recorded a biographical tribute to Collins called "Leonard".

Collins was the inspiration and character talked about in Craig Morgan's song, "I Wish I Could See Bakersfield".

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

Leonard Raymond Sipes (28. September 1930 - 14. März 2000), besser bekannt als Tommy Collins, war ein amerikanischer Country-Sänger und Songschreiber.

Collins, der vor allem in den 1950er bis 1970er Jahren aktiv war, war maßgeblich an der Entstehung des Bakersfield-Sounds der Country-Musik beteiligt. Mitte der 1950er Jahre hatte er eine Reihe von Hits, darunter "It Tickles" und "Watcha Gonna Do Now". Er schrieb auch mehrere Lieder für andere Künstler, darunter "If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')", das 1954 ein Top-10-Hit für Faron Young und 1988 ein Nr.-1-Hit von George Strait war.

Nach mehreren Jahren im Dienst kehrte Collins zur Schallplatte zurück. Im Jahr 1965 hatte er einen Comeback-Hit mit "If You Can't Bite, Don't Growl". In den 1970er Jahren schrieb er mehrere Hits für Merle Haggard und The Strangers, darunter die Nr.-1-Hits "Carolyn" und "The Roots of My Raising". Im Juni 1980 nahm Haggard eine biografische Hommage an Collins mit dem Titel "Leonard" auf.

Collins war die Inspiration und die Figur, von der in Craig Morgans Song "I Wish I Could See Bakersfield" die Rede ist.

Collins blieb im Songwriting-Geschäft aktiv. Er starb am 14. März 2000 in seinem Haus in Ashland City, Tennessee.