Cal Collins

Cal Collins (May 5, 1933 – August 27, 2001) was an American jazz guitarist born in Medora, Indiana.

Collins first played the mandolin professionally as a bluegrass musician in the early 1950s. After doing a stint in the Army, he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and while there he switched to jazz guitar. He played into the 1970s for various ensembles, and in 1976 joined up with Benny Goodman. Starting in the 1970s and continuing into the 1990s, Collins recorded copiously for Concord Jazz. In 1993 he toured with Doc Watson, Jerry Douglas, and Cephas & Wiggins on the Masters of the Steel String Guitar tour. He died of liver failure in 2001.

Discography

• 1974 Milestones (Pausa)
• 1977 Ohio Boss Guitar
• 1978 Cincinnati to L.A. (Concord Jazz)
• 1978 In San Francisco (Concord Jazz)
• 1979 Blues on My Mind (Concord Jazz)
• 1979 By Myself (Concord Jazz)
• 1980 Interplay (Concord Jazz)
• 1981 Cross Country (Concord Jazz)
• 1983 Crack'd Rib (Mo Pro)
• 1990 Ohio Style (Concord Jazz)
• 1998 S'us Four (J Curve)

References

• Cal Collins at Allmusic