Tommy McLain, a renowned swamp pop musician, was born on March 15, 1940, in Jonesville, Louisiana. His musical journey began at a young age, as he started singing at family gatherings and began playing bass guitar at the tender age of five. Throughout his career, McLain has mastered multiple instruments, including drums, fiddle, bagpipes, and keyboards, in addition to singing and playing bass guitar.
Growing up in Louisiana, McLain was heavily influenced by the likes of Little Richard, Fats Domino, and Larry Williams, whose unique sounds shaped his musical style. He played in a high school band and worked as a disc jockey at the Oakdale radio station KREH, honing his skills and gaining valuable experience.
In the 1950s, McLain began performing with country singer Clint West, and they went on to form the Vel-Tones and the Boogie Kings in the late 1950s and 1960s, respectively. In 1965, they recorded the duet single "Try to Find Another Man," which marked the beginning of McLain's successful music career.
However, it was his swamp pop cover of "Sweet Dreams" that brought him widespread recognition, peaking at number 15 on the pop charts in August 1966 and selling over three million copies. This success led to a guest appearance on Dick Clark's TV musical variety show "Where the Action Is" and concert tours with popular groups such as the Yardbirds, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and Tommy James and the Shondells.
As a prolific songwriter, McLain has penned over 150 songs, including the hit single "If You Don't Love Me Alone (Leave Me Alone)" for country singer Freddy Fender. He has also appeared in the Paul Newman film noir mystery thriller "The Drowning Pool" alongside his backing group, the Mule Train Band.
Throughout his illustrious career, McLain has received numerous accolades, including being inducted into the Swedish Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in October 2007. To this day, he continues to perform with the Mule Train Band in the South, sharing his unique brand of swamp pop with fans across the region.
