Aaron Collins
Encyclopedia
Aaron Collins was an American
rhythm and blues
singer and songwriter
, most active in the 1950s and 1960s.
/The Jacks). Collins is best known as being a singer with the doo wop groups The Cadets
, The Jacks, and The 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 white studio group and not The 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 ladies shoe store named Collins Shoe Closet which was burned down in the Rodney King riots April 29, 1992 located on the corner of Manchester and Vermont in Los Angeles, California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, most active in the 1950s and 1960s.
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 CadetsThe Cadets
The Cadets can refer to one of the following:* The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps* The Cadets * The Cadets - 10-part Russian TV series dealing with the Battle of Stalingrad...
/The Jacks). Collins is best known as being a singer with the doo wop groups The Cadets
The Cadets
The Cadets can refer to one of the following:* The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps* The Cadets * The Cadets - 10-part Russian TV series dealing with the Battle of Stalingrad...
, The Jacks, and The Flares. The Cadets
The Cadets
The Cadets can refer to one of the following:* The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps* The Cadets * The Cadets - 10-part Russian TV series dealing with the Battle of Stalingrad...
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 white studio group and not The Cadets
The Cadets
The Cadets can refer to one of the following:* The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps* The Cadets * The Cadets - 10-part Russian TV series dealing with the Battle of Stalingrad...
.
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
Modern Records
Modern Records was an American record label formed in 1945 in Los Angeles by the Bihari brothers. In the 1960s, Modern Records went bankrupt and ceased operations, but the catalogue went with the management into what became Kent Records. This back catalogue was eventually licensed to the UK label...
in 1956 called "Eddie My Love" as The Teen Queens.
Later in life, Collins had a ladies shoe store named Collins Shoe Closet which was burned down in the Rodney King riots April 29, 1992 located on the corner of Manchester and Vermont in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
Singles
- 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)