Cal Collins
Cal Collins was an American jazz guitarist.
Born in Medora, Indiana, Collins first played the mandolin professionally as a bluegrass musician in the early 1950s. After service in the Army, he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and switched to jazz guitar after hearing swing guitarists Charlie Christian, Irving Ashby, and Oscar Moore. He played in Cincinnati for twenty years.
Benny Goodman hired him in 1976 at the age of 43. He spent three years with the Goodman orchestra and then three years making albums for Concord Jazz. As a leader and sideman, he worked with Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache, Rosemary Clooney, Ross Tompkins, Woody Herman, John Bunch, and Marshal Royal.
In the early 1980s, Collins returned to Cincinnati and slowed down his career. He joined the Masters of the Steel String Guitar Tour in 1993 with Jerry Douglas and Doc Watson and recorded his last album in 1998. In 2001, he died of liver failure.Discography
As leader
With John Bunch
With Rosemary Clooney
With Concord Jazz All Stars
- Concord Jazz All Stars at the Northsea Jazz Festival Volume 1
- Concord Jazz All Stars at the Northsea Jazz Festival Volume 2
- Duke Meets Concord Jazz All Stars
With Concord Super Band
With Benny Goodman
With Woody Herman
With Eiji Kitamura
With Marshal Royal
With Warren Vache
With others
- Bob Barnard, New York Notes
- Cal Collins, Michael Moore, Jimmy Madison, and Kenny Poole, S'Us Four
- Scott Hamilton, Scott Hamilton 2
- Scott Hamilton and Buddy Tate, Scott's Buddy
- Hank Marr, Hank & Frank
- Ross Tompkins, Concord All Stars, Festival Time
