Tommy McLain

Swamp pop musician Tommy McLain was born on March 15, 1940 in Jonesville, Louisiana. He first started singing at family parties and began playing bass guitar at age five. In addition to singing and playing bass guitar, McLain also plays drums, fiddle, bagpipes, and keyboards. Tommy was highly influenced by the Louisiana sounds of Little Richard, Fats Domino, and Larry Williams. He played in a high school band and worked as a disc jockey at the Oakdale radio station KREH. McLain began performing with country singer Clint West in the 50's; they were both members of the Vel-Tones in the late 50's and the Boogie Kings in the 60's. In 1965 he recorded the duet single "Try to Find Another Man" with West. Tommy scored his biggest hit with a poignant and inspired swamp pop cover of "Sweet Dreams," which peaked at #15 on the pop charts in August, 1966 and sold over three million copies. The success of "Sweet Dreams" led to a guest appearance on Dick Clark's TV musical variety show "Where the Ac