The Collins Kids

For the youth chess group, see the Collins Kids organization.

The Collins Kids are an American rockabilly duo featuring Lawrencine "Lorrie" Collins (born May 7, 1942) and her younger brother Lawrence "Larry" Collins (born October 4, 1944). Their hits in the 1950s as youngsters, such as "Hop, Skip and Jump", "Beetle Bug Bop" and "Hoy Hoy", were geared towards children, but their infectious singing and playing crossed over generations. Larry, a lightning-fingered guitar whiz at age 10, was known for playing a double-neck Mosrite guitar like his mentor, Joe Maphis.

Career

They became regular performers on Town Hall Party in 1954 and on the syndicated for television version of the show, Tex Ritter's Ranch Party, which ran from 1957 to 1959.[1] It was on Town Hall Party that Ricky Nelson first saw Lorrie Collins, soon after making her the first steady girlfriend of that 1950s teen heartthrob.[2] In a 1958 episode[3] of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Lorrie played both Ricky's girlfriend - and that girlfriend's identical twin.

The Collins continued to perform together in the mid-1960s, appearing as regulars on the Canadian music program Star Route and making a guest appearance on the September 8, 1965, edition of Shindig!.[4]

Larry[5] wrote a number of well-known songs including "Delta Dawn", "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma", "Tulsa Turnaround"; some in partnership with songwriter Alexander Harvey (not to be confused with Scottish rocker Alex Harvey).

The duo reunited for a rockabilly revival concert in England in 1993 and continue to perform. They appeared at Deke Dickerson's Guitar Geek Festival in Anaheim, California on January 19, 2008, with a new addition to the band: their nephew, Dakota Collins, playing upright bass.

References

  1. ↑ Billboard Jun 10, 1957 page 14 Screen Gems to syndicate "Ranch Party" for fall debut. Five half hours already completed, with 39 more scheduled.
  2. ↑ http://www.rockabillyhall.com/CollinsKids1.html The Collins Kids at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame
  3. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1651356/ Lorrie Collins
  4. ↑ Clips of these performances were available on YouTube as of Sept. 6, 2010
  5. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1648581/ Larry Collins (V)
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