Changes

==Background==

==Background==

Tomlinson was born in Hampton in Calhoun County in southern [[Arkansas]], one of five children of Carl Jackson Tomlinson (1901-1974) and the former Myrtle May Wilson (1906–1986).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/90827045|title=Carl Jackson Tomlinson|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=October 25, 2020}}</ref> Because of a devastating [[Flooding|flood]],<ref name=rockabilly>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockabillyhall.com/TommyTomlinson.html|title=Tommy Tomlinson: A Great Rockabilly Guitar Picker|publisher=rockabillyhall.com|accessdate=July 1, 2015}}</ref> the Tomlinsons moved southwest by 1941 to [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], [[Louisiana]]. When his older brother, Willie C. "Bill" Tomlinson (1926–2004),<ref name=billtom>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Tomlinson&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1168&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=10477240&df=all&|title=Willie C. Bill" Tomlinson|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=October 25, 2020}}</ref> entered the [[United States Navy]] and left behind his guitar, Gerald soon mastered playing the instrument. In 1951, he enlisted in the [[United States Marine Corps]] during the [[Korean War]] and was wounded in both legs during his three years of service. It was in the military that his fellow Marines gave him the nickname "Tommy," a shortened form of "Tomlinson".<ref name=hmusic/>

Tomlinson was born in Hampton in Calhoun County in southern [[Arkansas]], one of five children of Carl Jackson Tomlinson (1901-1974) and the former Myrtle May Wilson (1906–1986).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/90827045|title=Carl Jackson Tomlinson|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=October 25, 2020}}</ref> Because of a devastating flood,<ref name=rockabilly>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockabillyhall.com/TommyTomlinson.html|title=Tommy Tomlinson: A Great Rockabilly Guitar Picker|publisher=rockabillyhall.com|accessdate=July 1, 2015}}</ref> the Tomlinsons moved southwest by 1941 to [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], [[Louisiana]]. When his older brother, Willie C. "Bill" Tomlinson (1926–2004),<ref name=billtom>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Tomlinson&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1168&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=10477240&df=all&|title=Willie C. Bill" Tomlinson|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=October 25, 2020}}</ref> entered the [[United States Navy]] and left behind his guitar, Gerald soon mastered playing the instrument. In 1951, he enlisted in the [[United States Marine Corps]] during the [[Korean War]] and was wounded in both legs during his three years of service. It was in the military that his fellow Marines gave him the nickname "Tommy," a shortened form of "Tomlinso."<ref name=hmusic/>

==Career==

==Career==