Felicia Collins
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Felicia Michele Collins is an American vocalist and guitarist, best known for her work on the CBS Television program, The Late Show with David Letterman, as part of the CBS Orchestra.
[edit] Beginnings in Music
While enrolled in school as a graphic design major, Felicia Collins began playing with local musicians in New York City in the 1980s. When playing with a band called The Take, she met and became friends with producer and artist Nile Rogers. So impressed with her guitar talents, he offered Felicia studio work on various projects. His clout for recognizing talent was confirmed, when, just on his word, The Thompson Twins invited the budding musician to play guitar on their upcoming world tour in 1985.
In the summer of 1985, Felicia made her live debut with the Thompson Twins at none other than Live Aid, the famine relief project led by Bob Geldoff, the mastermind who served as the catalyst for "We Are the World."
Soon after that gig, Felicia found herself touring with jazz-pop giant, Al Jarreau, after being featured on his "L is for Lover" album (1986), on a song called Pleasure Games. While the two genres are assuredly different, Felicia quickly found herself an integral part of the Jarreau set. The loose-lipped, extremely talented performance veteran made Felicia a highlighted part of his stage act.
Recognizing a raw talent in the self-taught musician, Rogers vowed that he and Felicia would one day work on a project together. While still on tour with Jarreau, Nile coerced Felicia into taking a break to record an album with him and Philippe Saisse, in a triad they called Outloud. An album of the same name was released in 1988 on the Warner Bros. label.
[edit] The CBS Orchestra
Collins had just ended Lauper's "Hat Full of Stars" tour in the summer of 1993 when she was asked by CBS Orchestra band leader, Paul Shaffer to join the house band for the program. Collins accepted and has remained with the show since its premiere on August 30, 1993.
Collins has toured and recorded with artists like Madonna, Vonda Shepard, George Clinton and P-Funk, Cyndi Lauper, Thompson Twins, Al Jarreau (whom she toured with as his lead guitarist and featured vocalist) and many others.
Collins can also be seen around New York City with her band, Bitchslapp.
