Rodger Collins

Rodger Collins (born c. 1940) is an American soul and funk musician from Oakland, California. Born in Texas, Collins had regional hits in the San Francisco Bay Area in the mid-1960s through the 1970s, when his music was also popular among dancers at clubs in England. He wrote and recorded "She's Looking Good" in 1967, and the song was later covered by both Wilson Pickett and David Lee Roth. Other notable recordings included "Foxy Girls in Oakland" in 1970 and "You Sexy Sugar Plum" released on Fantasy Records in 1973.[1] The latter track peaked at #22 in the UK Singles Chart.[2] Collins was noted for energetic performances that included a stint opening for Elvis Presley and Ike & Tina Turner in Las Vegas, Nevada in the mid-1970s.

Collins retired from performing shortly after the Las Vegas shows and converted to Islam, taking the name Hajj Sabrie. He started a small business in Oakland but continued to write music and play on recording sessions using the name Rodger Collins.[3] He released a compact disc of recordings from various sessions titled Through My Eyes in 2008.

References

  1. ↑ "Rodger Collins Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  2. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 116. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ↑ Selvin, Joel (9 March 2004). "One record gave singer Rodger Collins a taste of fame, but no fortune. That was long before he became Haji Sabrie". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 31 March 2011.

Sources

"The Official Rodger Collins Biography Page". Garden Tree Media.
Hildebrand, Lee. "Crosstown traffic". San Francisco Bay Guardian.
Stroffolino, Chris. "Rodger Collins". Analogue Underground. Deep Oakland.
"Rodger Collins Foxy Girls In Oakland". In Dangerous Rhythm.