- Aaron Collins
Aaron Collins was an American
rhythm and blues singer andsongwriter , most active in the 1950s and 1960s. He was born onSeptember 3 ,1930 , died onMarch 27 ,1997 at the age of 66 years.Biography
Collins grew up in Arkansas and sang in church. After three years in a gospel group in Michigan, he moved to California. There he joined a spiritual group called the Santa Monica Soul Seekers (whose members later became
The Cadets /The Jacks). Collins is best known as being a singer with thedoo wop groupsThe Cadets , The Jacks, andThe Flares .The Cadets are best known for their hit "Stranded In The Jungle" in 1956. The Jacks' biggest hit was "Why Don't You Write Me?" in 1955. "Foot Stomping" was The Flares' big hit in 1961. The lead vocals in these groups were usually done by Aaron Collins, Willie Davis, or Will "Dub" Jones. While Collins was still a member of The Cadets and The Jacks, a solo album was released in 1957 called "Calypso USA." Two recordings from this album, "Pretty Evey" and "Rum Jamaica Rum," were released as a single by Aaron Collins And The Cadets in 1957. These recordings were actually by Collins and a studio group and notThe Cadets .He released a couple of solo records in the 1960s. Other records were released in the early 1960s as by The Peppers and The Thor-Ables. These two groups were actually members of The Cadets and The Flares including Willie Davis and Aaron Collins. Collins was also part owner of MJC Records in the early 1960s with Cadets members Lloyd McCraw and Will "Dub" Jones.
His sisters, Betty and Rose Collins, had a hit for
Modern Records in 1956 called "Eddie My Love" as The Teen Queens.Later in life, Collins had a shoe repair business in
Los Angeles, California .Discography
ingles
* Pretty Evey/Rum Jamaica Rum (Modern #1019) (1957) (as Aaron Collins and The Cadets)
* Dry Your Eyes And Try Again/A Prayer For Elaine (Dynasty #640) (1960)
* Easy To Say/Little Bit Of Lovin’ (Crazy Horse #1302) (1969)
* You Hit The Spot/If I Could Be Where You Are (Crazy Horse #1308) (1969)Albums
* Calypso USA (Crown #5028) (1957)
Book references
* L. A. R&B Vocal Groups 1945-1965 (by Steve Propes and Galen Gart) (Big Nickel Publications) (2001)
External links
* [http://home.att.net/~uncamarvy/JacksCadets/jackscadets.html Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - The Jacks/The Cadets]
* [http://www.angelfire.com/mn/coasters/members.html The Coasters - Members' Biographies]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
