Tommy McLain

Tommy McLain

Tommy McLain is a swamp pop singer and multi-instrumentalist from Jonesville, Louisiana, United States. He performs on vocals, keyboards, fiddle, bass guitar and drums. He is a member of Lil’ Band o’ Gold.

Career

McLain begins performing in the 1950s, working alongside country singer Clint West. The two are both members of The Vel-Tones in the late 1950s and later The Boogie Kings in the 1960s. They also record the duet “Try to Find Another Man” in 1965.

He also works as a DJ at the Louisiana radio station KREH and appears on Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars in the 1960s. He appears with the Mule Train Band in the Paul Newman film The Drowning Pool.

Recording work

McLain is best known for “Sweet Dreams”, which reaches No. 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1966 and No. 49 in the UK Singles Chart the same year. He also writes Freddy Fender’s hit single “If You Don’t Love Me Alone (Leave Me Alone)”.

Recognition

In October 2007, McLain is inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.

Later release

He releases I Ran Down Every Dream in 2022, his first album in more than 40 years.