Nashville Remembers Tommy Collins

Posted in News on May 21, 2000

Eight of Nashville's songwriting greats gathered last week to celebrate one of their own, the late Tommy Collins, with proceeds from a special concert earmarked for the Tommy Collins Fund to help his widow defray medical expenses. BMI legends Bill Anderson, Max D. Barnes, Jack Clement, Hank Cochran, Dallas Frazier, Red Lane, Whitey Shafer and Johnny Russell sang their hits to a packed Douglas Corner Café audience and reminisced about Collins, who died March 14. Collins, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Foundation Hall of Fame, was a recording artist himself before penning memorable tunes such as ‘Carolyn,’ ‘The Roots of My Raising’ and ‘If You Ain’t Lovin (You Ain’t Livin)’ for a variety of artists, including Merle Haggard, George Strait, Mel Tillis, Faron Young, Buck Owens and Mark Chesnutt.

On stage at Douglas Corner Café are (from left, standing) BMI's Roger Sovine, Bill Anderson, Red Lane, concert organizer Buddy Cannon of Bud-Ro Productions, Max D. Barnes, Jack Clement, and BMI's Harry Warner; (seated) Whitey Shafer, Hank Cochran, Dallas Frazier and Johnny Russell. Photo by Alan Mayor

For more information about contributing to the Tommy Collin Fund, contact Bud-Ro Productions at 615-320-4880.

SOURCENews TAGS Country Bill Anderson Buddy Cannon Hank Cochran Merle Haggard Buck Owens Johnny Russell George Strait Mel Tillis