Tommy Blake (born Thomas LeVan Givens, September 14, 1931 – December 24, 1985) was an American rockabilly singer and songwriter active in the 1950s to the 1970s.
While in the Marine Corps, Blake nurtured his ambitions of being a professional musician by frequently singing and playing on the guitar for enlisted men before his discharge.
To capitalize on the craze for rockabilly that began to dominate the American charts, Blake recorded his debut single, "Koolit", in 1956.
Atkins hired a collection of session musicians, including Buddy Killen, Farris Coursey and Floyd Cramer to record the rhythm sections.
The single, which included the band originals "Honky Tonk Mind" and "All Night Long", was given the full rockabilly treatment.
[1] Undeterred, Blake accepted a deal with Sun Records after Sam Philips met him at a disc jockey convention in Memphis.
Sensing he had little hope with writing pop songs, Blake struck a songwriting partnership with Jerry Ross to work for country artists.