Tommy Collins

Tommy Collins began his career with Capitol Records in the mid-1950s, immediately notching a huge hit with "You Better Not Do That" in 1954. He entered a seminary in 1957, was ordained in 1961, and for some years had little involvement in country music. Following a tour of Vietnam in the mid-'60s, he switched to Columbia Records, recording the Top 10 hit "If You Can’t Bite, Don’t Growl." His 20 compositions for Merle Haggard included their co-written, nostalgic "I Wish Things Were Simple Again," and the touching "Carolyn." A lengthy struggle with alcohol and drugs ravaged his voice and from the late-'70s on he concentrated on songwriting, writing hits for Mel Tillis and George Strait, among others.