 Born in Macon, he attended college for a short time before working as an insurance agent for Atlanta Life and playing saxophone in his own band, the Hamptones, which occasionally featured high school friend Little Richard on vocals.The Hamptones performed at the famed Cavalcade of Jazz concert held in Los Angeles at Wrigley Field on July 10, 1949 and in San Diego's Lane Field on September 3, 1949 which were both produced by Leon Hefflin, Sr. Swain helped give James Brown his big break by being the first DJ to play "Please, Please, Please" on the radio in 1956.He also hosted "The Teenage Party," a talent competition won by local singer Otis Redding several times.