Tommy Collins - All Of The Monkey`s Ain`t In The Zoo

Capitol 3665
Tommy Collins was a native of the Oklahoma City area. While in high school, his brother Bill encouraged him to take up the guitar. Not just interested in music, he was part of the National Honor Society in high school and was chosen as Oklahoma's "Who's Who" representative in 1945. After high school, he attended college for three years and was a chemistry major.
His career started over KLPR in Oklahoma City, OK. He had his own show there for about two years and was on Cousin Jay's "Mountain Jamboree" show there, too. He also appeared on other Oklahoma City stations, including WKY, WKY-TV, KBYE and KOCY.
Tommy had to serve a stint with the Marines. After he got out, he went out to California where he met none other than Ferlin Huskey. He credits Ferlin for helping him out quite a bit, including living at Ferlin's house in Bakersfield. Ferlin also introduced Tommy to Cliffie Stone of Central Songs, Inc. Tommy was signed by Central and later, also by Capitol Records.
Almost as soon as he wrote them, artists started recording his tunes. For instance, Gene O'Quinn recorded his "I'll Stop Loving You" and "I Believe in Lovin' 'Em". Chester Smith waxed "Wishing My Life Away". Ferlin Huskey recorded a handful of his tunes, too including hits such as "Are You Afraid", "I'll Never Have You", "Hank's Song", "Watch The Company You Keep", "How Much Are You Mine", "Undesired". Freddie Hart scored with "Whole Hog or None". Recent Country Music Hall of Famer Faron Young recorded his "Just Married". And the Carlisles did "I Need A Little Help".
When he joined Capitol, his first tunes released for them were "You Gotta Have A License" that had "There'll Be No Other" on the flip side. Later on, he did "You Better Not Do That" that had "High On A Hilltop" on the B side (a tune that was later recorded for a hit by Merle Haggard).
Along about mid-1954 or so, Tommy was working with Cousin Herb Henson out of Bakersfield, doing radio, television and personal appearances.
Even by 1954, he was quite a prolific songwriter as they mentioned he had already written over 200 songs. Stay tuned as you know we'll find out more about him as we go along the trails of hillbilly music history.
Hillbilly-music.com

[@baeidanaan2704]

hey it’s kinda like those idiots today on the streets rioting

[@slowburn678]

And the Maskers!

[@rommix0]

@@slowburn678 At least the maskers ain't dying lol. What about you?

[@slowburn678]

@@rommix0 well, if the ones that are still Maskers are Jabbers then.......um...

[@shellys1216]

That’s my great uncle, Tommy Collins! (Aka Leonard Sipes). My daddy sang it to us as kids and I sang it to my kiddos:)

[@slowburn678]

Tommy aka Leonard was our pastor and friend, of course, at a little Southern Baptist church in the mountains in the early 1960s. Did he ever tell you the story of Ketchup in the milkshake? He was one of a kind.

[@hennihabeck8502]

I have Always Had a lot of admration for t.c. or Leonard sipes. His sense of humor etc. An awful talented songwriter with a unique voice.

[@nfrcomputers]

I wish I had got to live through the 50s

[@chrismoss9060]

When I was a kid my dad used to say all of the Monkeys ain't in the zoo. There's some running loose around me and you. I still smile 25 years later remembering that

[@zaaritha]

Old favorite of mine!

[@alijuboori1328]

love this man's music

[@frankchilds9848]

Tommy was sure observant and well versed in how this world really works! I wonder what he would think of our world here and now?

[@BooBoo13Gem]

Sp true

[@tonyamosig5775]

1957

[@rodneyjones7078]

never been more true than in these days. 🙄

[@xxxRedneckpowerxxx]

AHHHHHH

[@bikesound2]

I believe Buck Owens on lead.

[@jerryhutchinson1528]

there's another cut og this with James Burton on guitar.

[@jonesy4588]

they damn sure ain't

[@jamestcampbell610]

Go listen to Pickles

[@singnfisherman2961]

Never heard this version before. What year is this?

[@missouribob7850]

The year is currently 2020.

[@imasonofadeadbeat2928]

@@missouribob7850 It was 2017 when they asked.

[@RobinHarper-tv9ih]

Remember this from the 60s

[@sensibleadult]

One is currently in the White House.

[@denisbelyaev5526]

Lmao

[@mum3347]

Yes there is.

[@shithead8094]

Lol

[@baeidanaan2704]

LOL

[@hennihabeck8502]

Almost.all over the.world
Leonard.was.a.very intelligent man
He is still one of.my.favorites.with.huge vocabulary

[@CharlieEst1981]

Quit thinking so negatively your being a racist. Being racist isn't politically correct these days.

[@bordermaven]

impossible not to step in racist shit down south

[@xxxRedneckpowerxxx]

Racism is fine