John Collins (jazz guitarist)

John Elbert Collins (September 20, 1913 – October 4, 2001) was an American jazz guitarist who accompanied many swing era names from 1935 to 1950, including Art Tatum, Roy Eldridge, Billie Holiday, Buck Clayton, J.J. Johnson, Coleman Hawkins, Harry Carney, Teddy Wilson, Chubby Jackson, Shadow Wilson^[1] and Lester Young. His longest association was with Nat King Cole, 1951-65. Known for his rhythm work, Collins soloed infrequently. He later taught music in the Los Angeles area.

He appears on the classic 1983 recording Jackson, Johnson, Brown & Company featuring Milt Jackson on vibes, J. J. Johnson on trombone, Ray Brown on bass, Tom Ranier on piano, drummer Roy McCurdy and Collins.

Collins was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 1993.

Partial discography

• Esquire's All-American Hot Jazz Sessions (1988 Bluebird LP) - with the "Esquire All-American Award Winners" - Produced by Leonard Feather, RCA Studio 2, New York City, December 4, 1946.

With Ruth Brown

• Ruth Brown (Atlantic, 1957)

With Illinois Jacquet

• Groovin' with Jacquet (Clef, 1951-53 [1956])

With Carmen McRae

• You're Lookin' at Me (A Collection of Nat King Cole Songs) (Concord, 1983)
• Any Old Time (Denon, 1986)

With Billy Taylor

• Piano Panorama (Atlantic, 1952)

Death

Collins died of cancer on October 4, 2001 at the age of 88.

References

• The Complete Jazz At the Philharmonic On Verve, 1944–49, 10-CD box set.

External links

• John Collins at Find a Grave