Tommy Tomlinson

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Gerald D. "Tommy" Tomlinson (born October 28, 1930 ; † April 8, 1982 ) was an American country and rockabilly musician. He is not related to rock singer Tom Tomlinson.

Life

Childhood and youth

Tommy Tomlinson grew up in Hampton , Arkansas . His parents' farm was just a few miles from the farm where Johnny Cash was born. In 1941 the family moved to Minden , Louisiana due to the Mississippi floods . Tomlinson's brother Bill had given him his guitar just before he was drafted into the Navy . A friend then taught him to play the guitar. He was soon playing perfectly and formed his first band in high school. He was even given the extraordinary honor of playing with Hank Williams . But in 1951 he was drafted into the Navy , where he also got his nickname "Tommy".

Career

In 1954 he was discharged from the army. He made his first appearances as a background musician in Shreveport , Louisiana with KWKH Louisiana Hayride . A short time later he made his first records in the Hayride with the singer Werly Fairburn , followed by recordings with Johnny Horton . Tomlinson can be heard on Horton's The Battle Of New Orleans and North To Alaska . The high point of the collaboration with Horton were the joint tours through the USA. In 1960 the car crashed in which he and Horton were sitting. Unlike Horton, Tomlinson survived the accident, even though his right leg had to be amputated 18 months later. Then Johnny Cash organized a benefit concert for him. The two knew each other from joint appearances in the Louisiana Hayride. He also got help from Luther Perkins , the guitarist Cashs and a friend of Tomlinson.

Tomlinson was not discouraged by his setback; with Jerry Kennedy he recorded a total of four albums and worked with stars such as Jim Reeves , Marty Robbins , David Houston and Claude King . He was also successful as a composer, including for Dolly Parton and Norma Jean . With his band The Country Connection he performed publicly until the end.

Tommy Tomlinson died on April 8, 1982, the day after his last appearance. He and his wife had five children, Del Marie, Jackie, Donna, Doug and Thomas Tillman.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Tomlinson, Tommy
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Tomlinson, Gerald D.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American country and rockabilly musician
DATE OF BIRTH October 28, 1930
PLACE OF BIRTH Hampton (Arkansas) , Arkansas
DATE OF DEATH April 8, 1982