Johnny Collins
Encyclopedia
Johnny Collins was a folk singer
based in London
, England
, specializing in traditional maritime music.
, England and adopted by a railway worker and a music teacher living in Norwich
. He joined the British Army in 1956, where he learned to play the guitar in jazz and folk clubs while posted in London
. He was posted to Singapore
in 1959 where he began performing in bars and cabarets in his off hours, and was posted to Hong Kong
in 1965 where he began performing large concerts with other folk performers in the British and U.S. military.
He also performed on television and radio (including the "Voice of America in East Asia") and played venues like the Hong Kong Hilton. In 1967 he was posted again to Singapore where he began his own folk club at the Anophel Inn. Tom Lewis
and Pam Ayres
performed there, among others. He was demobilized ("demobbed") in 1968, and he began to perform full-time.
In 1983 he and Jim Mageean, performing as a duo, won the Intervision Song Contest
in Rostock
, in East Germany. Later, in 1987, they were invited by the East German government to perform at a sea shanty
festival in Berlin
commemorating the city's founding.
Although slowed down by health problems, Collins continued to tour and perform worldwide up to the time of his death. including in the Netherlands
, Belgium
, Germany
, Poland
and France
as well as making frequent appearances in his native country at Cutty Sark
Tall Ships Races, and maritime festivals at Hull, Lancaster, Bristol, Dundee, Maldon, Portsmouth, Gosport, Greenwich and Chatham.
Folk Singer
Folk Singer is a 1964 album by Muddy Waters. Waters plays acoustic guitar, backed by Willie Dixon on string bass, Clifton James on drums, and Buddy Guy on acoustic guitar...
based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, specializing in traditional maritime music.
Biography
Collins was born in NorfolkNorfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England and adopted by a railway worker and a music teacher living in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
. He joined the British Army in 1956, where he learned to play the guitar in jazz and folk clubs while posted in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He was posted to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in 1959 where he began performing in bars and cabarets in his off hours, and was posted to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in 1965 where he began performing large concerts with other folk performers in the British and U.S. military.
He also performed on television and radio (including the "Voice of America in East Asia") and played venues like the Hong Kong Hilton. In 1967 he was posted again to Singapore where he began his own folk club at the Anophel Inn. Tom Lewis
Tom Lewis (songwriter)
Tom Lewis is a British singer and writer of nautical songs.-Biography:Lewis was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and grew up in Gloucester, England...
and Pam Ayres
Pam Ayres
Pam Ayres MBE is an English poet, songwriter and presenter of radio and television programmes. Her 1975 appearance on the television talent show Opportunity Knocks led to a variety of appearances on TV and radio shows, a one woman touring stage show and performing before the Queen.-Early life:Pam...
performed there, among others. He was demobilized ("demobbed") in 1968, and he began to perform full-time.
In 1983 he and Jim Mageean, performing as a duo, won the Intervision Song Contest
Intervision Song Contest
The Intervision Song Contest was the Eastern Bloc equivalent to the Eurovision Song Contest. Its organiser was the Intervision, the network of Eastern Europe television stations. It took place in the Forest Opera in Sopot, Poland....
in Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
, in East Germany. Later, in 1987, they were invited by the East German government to perform at a sea shanty
Sea shanty
A shanty is a type of work song that was once commonly sung to accompany labor on board large merchant sailing vessels. Shanties became ubiquitous in the 19th century era of the wind-driven packet and clipper ships...
festival in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
commemorating the city's founding.
Although slowed down by health problems, Collins continued to tour and perform worldwide up to the time of his death. including in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
as well as making frequent appearances in his native country at Cutty Sark
Cutty Sark
The Cutty Sark is a clipper ship. Built in 1869, she served as a merchant vessel , and then as a training ship until being put on public display in 1954...
Tall Ships Races, and maritime festivals at Hull, Lancaster, Bristol, Dundee, Maldon, Portsmouth, Gosport, Greenwich and Chatham.
Partial discography
- Traveller's Rest (1973)
- Johnny's Private Army (1975)
- Make the Rafters Roar (1979) with Jim Mageean
- Free and Easy (1982)
- Live at Herga! (1982) with Jim Mageean
- Strontrace (1983) with Jim Mageean
- Pedlar of Songs (1993)
- Coming of Age (1996)
- Shanties and Sea Songs (1996)
- Now & Then (2000)
- Good Times (2008) with Graeme Knights and Jim Mageean
External links
- Johnny Collins' official website
- feature article by Mike Raven in Living Tradition magazine - Issue 27, June/July 1998
- YouTube video of Johnny Collins performing song by Shelley Posen, No More Fish, No FishermenNo More Fish, No FishermenNo More Fish, No Fishermen is a song composed by Canadian folklorist Shelley Posen, about the demise of the Newfoundland fishery. Although it was written in 1996, it is often assumed to be a traditional song. The tune is based upon "Coal Not Dole" by Kay Sutcliffe, about the death of the coal...
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me8Ainpyoac) Last Concert - Zejman Club - Gdansk, Poland 5.07.2009]