The Collins Kids

Like Hardrock Gunter in 1995, the Ragtime Wranglers backed up a main act from the U.S.A. again in Munich. In the summer of 1997 they played with the legendary "Collins Kids". This was the third time the Collins Kids played in Europe. At earlier shows they were backed up by the fabulous Dave & Deke Combo from Los Angeles.

From left to right: Joe (guitar); Larry Collins; Sietse (drums); Lorrie Collins; Erik (steel-guitar); Patrick (bass) and Mary Ann.

In May 1998 the Collins Kids were backed up by the Ragtime Wranglers again, at the Hemsby rock and roll weekender in the U.K. You can find more about this event at: http://www.rockabillyhall.com/Hemsby20.html. The influence of the Collins Kids on the music of the Ranch Girls and Ragtime Wranglers is obvious. The Ranch Girls recorded many of their songs and there is never a live concert without a Collins Kids classic.

The family with Larry Collins (Tulsa, Oklahoma October 4, 1944) and his sister Lorrie (Tahlequah, Oklahoma May 7, 1942) moved to California in 1953. In California Larry and Lorrie tried to take a serious shot at an entertainment career.

In 1952 William Wagnon Jr. began his "The Town Hall Party" broadcast over KFI Radio and KTTV-TV and later carried by a network of NBC radio stations. This barn dance program was televised every Saturday night from Compton California. Screen Gems filmed 39 one-half hour shows as "Ranch Party". Its cast came to include Johnny Bond, Joe and Rose Lee Maphis, Skeets McDonald and many more.

Larry and Lorrie entered a Town Hall Party talent contest one Friday night in February 1954 and were hired to perform on t.v. the following day! They appeared in every episode of Town Hall Party Larry would sometimes team up with his guitarist and mentor Joe Maphis and jamming on their twin-necked Mosrites the duo laid down some breath-taking instrumentals like "Hurricane", "Early American", "The Rockin' Gypsy" and "Fire On The Strings". Larry's bass string runs inspired many California surf pickers in the early sixties.

They signed with Columbia Records on July 25, 1955 and over the three years that followed cut the most ingenuous and joyous rock-a-billy of the era: "Mercy", "Whistle Bait", "Hot Rod", "Hoy Hoy" and more. Generally, Lorrie sang lead on these records with Larry contributing high harmony vocals and tasty guitar-licks.

Despite they had no chart appearances they were on the Arthur Godfrey, Perry Como, Bob Crosby, Dinah Shore and Steve Allen shows. They toured the country regularly and played in the Grand Ole Opry.

Today people still talk about their surprising come-back three years ago. Everyone agrees: they haven't lost anything of their sound and appearance. If you want to hear some timeless quality rock and roll and rock-a-billy you should obtain the two-cd-box on Bear Family records. You can read more at: http://www.rockabillyhall.com/CollinsKids.html

You can taste the live atmosphere from the Town Hall Party shows on an album on TV-records, an album on Country Routes and a cd on Krazy Kat.

Most of the Town Hall Party shows are also reissued on video.