HOWDY!
Hepcat Black's my name.
Hep music's my game.
I'm a cool cool kitty, but let's get one thing
straight between us, Gus. I ain't from
New York City! I just pulled up in
my Pink Cadillac to spin some
my Pink Cadillac to spin some
cool tunes for ya. Old school
rock 'n' roll, rockabilly, psychobilly,
country, outlaw - it's all good, understood?
For my first stint as guest host here at Shady's Place
I am proud to present "The Collins Connection!"
THE COLLINS KIDS
(LARRY AND LORRIE)
Now I'm not talkin' about Joan Collins or Gary Collins or Tom Collins.
I'm talkin' about The Collins Kids - Lorrie and Larry Collins, the brother
and sister rockabilly duo you gotta see and hear to believe. Watch this
amazing performance of "Hoy Hoy," a single the siblings released
around Christmas 1957. When the song's over and you've put
your eyes and ears back in your head, then we'll talk.
"Hoy Hoy" - The Collins Kids (Larry And Lorrie)
(Christmas 1957, live perf. on 1958
ep. of Tex Ritter's Ranch Party)
Gotta love 'em - Lorrie and Larry Collins - The Collins Kids,
regulars on Tex Ritter's Ranch Party, the late 50s television
series known earlier that decade as Town Hall Party.
regulars on Tex Ritter's Ranch Party, the late 50s television
series known earlier that decade as Town Hall Party.
Little Larry's mentor was guitar virtuoso Joe Maphis -
The King of the Strings - who was also a regular
and featured soloist on Town Hall Party.
The King of the Strings - who was also a regular
and featured soloist on Town Hall Party.
Here's another sizzler guaranteed to get you out
of your seat and up on your feet. "Hop, Skip
And Jump" was released in April of 1957
on the B side of "Young Heart."
of your seat and up on your feet. "Hop, Skip
And Jump" was released in April of 1957
on the B side of "Young Heart."
"Hop, Skip And Jump" - The Collins Kids (Larry And Lorrie)
(Apr. 1957, B side of "Young Heart," orig. studio sound
over video of perf. on Tex Ritter's Ranch Party)
over video of perf. on Tex Ritter's Ranch Party)
In August 1957, Arkansas country crooner Edwin Bruce
released as a single a song he wrote entitled "Rock
Boppin' Baby." In August of '58, Lorrie and Larry
Collins released a sultry, seductive cover. Here
are the C- Kids delighting the Town Hall Party
audience with a live performance of the song.
"Rock Boppin' Baby" - Lorrie And Larry Collins
(Aug. 1958 single, perf. on Town Hall Party)
RICKY NELSON & LORRIE COLLINS
As the story goes, teenage idol Ricky Nelson spotted
15 year old Lorrie Collins on Town Hall Party.
It was love at first bite sight. Ricky caught cat scratch fever and set out
to make Lorrie his "Be Bop Baby." Before long the two were going steady.
Don't they make a purr-fect couple? It's easy to see why Lorrie Collins
caught the Rickster's eye. Take a look and a listen as Lorrie sings
"Waiting Just For You" on a 1958 episode of Ranch Party.
"Waiting Just For You" - Lorrie Collins
(perf. on 1958 ep. of Tex Ritter's Ranch Party)
In 1958 Lorrie demonstrated her singing
and acting skills on an episode of Ricky's
family TV sitcom The Adventures of
Ozzie And Harriet. Lorrie played the
dual role of Ricky's girlfriend and her
identical twin sister who was dating
Ricky's brother David. Together
Ricky and Lorrie performed
and acting skills on an episode of Ricky's
family TV sitcom The Adventures of
Ozzie And Harriet. Lorrie played the
dual role of Ricky's girlfriend and her
identical twin sister who was dating
Ricky's brother David. Together
Ricky and Lorrie performed
"Just Because," a song written in
1929 and recorded by numerous
artists including Elvis Presley
and Paul McCartney.
1929 and recorded by numerous
artists including Elvis Presley
and Paul McCartney.
"Just Because"
Ricky Nelson & Lorrie Collins
Ricky Nelson & Lorrie Collins
(scene from 1958 episode of
The Adventures of Ozzie And Harriet)
The Adventures of Ozzie And Harriet)
Ricky and Lorrie didn't last. The following year 17 year old Lorrie married
Stu Carnall, Johnny Cash's manager, a man who was twice her age.
Dang! Lorrie could have had me, Hepcat Black!
In 1958 "The Killer," Jerry Lee Lewis, had a hit single
with "High School Confidential," the theme song of
the 1958 crime drama movie of the same name.
Watch and listen as the talented siblings rip it
up with their version on Town Hall Party!
"High School Confidential" - The Collins Kids
(live perf. on Town Hall Party)
In addition to his blistering performances on guitar, Larry Collins is
an accomplished songwriter. He penned songs for The Collins Kids
and in later years co-wrote (with Alex Harvey) his best known song
"Delta Dawn," a top 10 country hit for Tanya Tucker in 1972. Larry
and Lorrie performed together until the mid 60s before going their
separate ways. In 1993 the talented brother and sister team
reunited for a rockabilly revival show in England and
continued to make live appearances until 2018.
I hope you agree that
The Collins Kids
are a couple of cool, cool kitties.
I'm Hepcat Black
saying so long for now and see you soon!
SCROLL DOWN:
EDITOR'S NOTE:
If there's a rock and roll
heaven, Ricky Nelson
and Lorrie Collins are
performing together again.
I am sad to report
that lovely Lorrie
died two months
ago of complications
resulting from a fall.
Lorrie was 76.
Oh my , what a history lesson here. It always amazes me that the parents were ok with their 17 year old daughter marrying a man twice her age. I wonder how long that lasted?
ReplyDeleteDelta Dawn was one of my fave songs growing up as a little girl. I would belt it out every time it was on radio. LOL
The Collins kids were pretty good- I liked Hop, skip and jump.
great post Shady!
Hi, Holli!
DeleteThank you for being the early bird this week, dear friend!
In the 50s, it was common for teenage girls to get married. If Johnny Cash's manager Stu Carnall was twice Lorrie's age, that would have made him 34 at the time, not all that scandalous. Keep in mind that Lorrie was only age 14, 15 and 16 when she sang those seductive songs about getting good lovin' from her man all night long, etc. That too was fairly common. I am sure Lorrie was influenced by rockabilly spark plug Wanda Jackson because she looked and performed a lot like Wanda, and Wanda routinely sang spicy songs. To answer your question, Lorrie's marriage to Stu lasted 30 years. The couple had two children before they divorced just before Christmas 1988.
Thank you again for coming over, dear friend Holli, and enjoy the rest of your week!
First of all... love Hepcat Black! Hope he appears here again! ;)
ReplyDeleteThe Collins Kids (and Lorrie solo) are new to me, but what talent! The brother is quite the ham in that first clip!
Hi, Kelly!
DeleteThanks for popping in, dear friend! I'm glad you like my guest host Hepcat Black because - yessum - he will be returning to host more rockabilly shows here at Shady's Place. Stick around!
I'm also delighted to know you enjoyed the rockabilly sounds of The Collins Kids - Larry & Lorrie. Truth be told, I never heard of them either until a year ago when I discovered them on YouTube. I forget how it even happened. Perhaps I was doing a Wanda Jackson search at the time. It pleases me that you appreciate their talent and got a kick out of the frantic guitar work of little Larry.
Thanks again for joining the Ranch Party, dear friend Kelly, and enjoy the rest of your week!
She had a great career. I'm sure they are playing beautiful music for God now.
ReplyDeleteHi, Alex!
DeleteThanks for coming by, good buddy!
Know what? I didn't learn that Lorrie Collins had died until YESTERDAY! Imagine my shock when I read about it and realized my post would be incomplete without that tag. It's such a shame that she lost her life at a relatively young age because of an accident. I haven't been able to learn any specifics, only what her little brother Larry reported to the media, that she died of complications resulting from a fall.
Thanks again for dropping by, good buddy Alex!
Larrie had some seriously good stage presence! He could really rock on that fancy guitar. You don't see too many guitars with two necks. And I can't say I've ever seen a performer use both necks on one song, so I'm wondering what the point was. Sorry to hear about his sister, Lorrie. She was a lovely lady.
ReplyDeleteHi, Sherry!
DeleteThank you for coming over, dear friend! Over the years I have posted many different styles of music. I admit that I have neglected rockabilly. This post marks an end to the rockabilly drought. Hepcat Black and other hosts will be bringing you many more posts of this type in the future.
I don't know anything about the guitar, but I do know that Larry Collins learned how to play the double neck from Joe Maphis, a veteran string musician known for his dazzling guitar virtuosity. I think "dazzling" might be the operative word there, because that lightning-fast, ultra-clean style of picking wowed audiences and helped make the Collins Kids duo popular.
Thanks again for your visit and comment, dear friend Sherry!
I will look forward to hearing more rockabilly at your pad. By the way, Hepcat Black is one scary looking cat! I wouldn't want him crossing my path!
DeleteHi again, Sherry!
DeleteI agree Hepcat is a wild looking a kitty. That's why I picked him out of the litter to host this rockin' rollin' rockabilly show here at Shady's Place. Hepcat will be back with more great Heartland tuneage, so stick around!
Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Sherry!
Wow, I loved this! I was too little to remember them or know about the show they were in but I really enjoyed listening to them here. Larry could steal the show couldn't he? I guess what they say about performing with animals (no offense Hepcat Black!) and little kids is true! She was a beauty and I'm sure there's lots of good music going on up in heaven with all the wonderful singers that have passed. Sorry to hear about her passing. She was a bit older when she passed than Ricky Nelson was when he left us. Anyway, this was a cool post and even folks who are superstitious won't be afraid to let this black cat pass their way! Have a good rest of the week!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteThanks a lot for coming by on the first day, dear friend. I am happy to see you! Hepcat Black welcomes you to the first of his posts paying tribute to the great artists and songs of rockabilly and early rock 'n' roll.
Larry Collins did indeed steal the show when it was time for him to do his frantic solo workouts on guitar, but sister Lorrie was also a major draw, and together they were double dynamite. I too was shocked and saddened to learn that Lorrie recently took a spill and died from complications. I'm surprised more information about the accident has not yet been made available. At least I haven't seen the full story anywhere.
That wildcat pose by Hepcat Black reminds me of your kitty Squeak posing for a Halloween picture a few years ago.
Thank you again for joining the fun, dear friend YaYa, and enjoy the rest of your week!
I have no connection to the Collins peeps whatsoever, friend Shady … as was only 2/3/4 years old then … but I'm sure impressed by the lil guy playing and dancing … wonder what happened to him ? Much love, cat. PS: My cat Theo sends greetings … smiles. c.
ReplyDeleteHi, cat! Hi, Theo!
DeleteI am happy to see you, dear friends! Thanks for coming to experience Hepcat Black and The Collins Connection - brother and sister rockabilly rebels Larry and Lorrie Collins.
I'm happy to know you were impressed with young Larry's guitar virtuosity and stage moves. He was quite a showman, wasn't he? In addition to being a fine songwriter, Larry released seven solo singles. He reunited with Lorrie in the 1990s and continued to do live shows with her in the 21st century. Larry is the one who informed the press of her untimely accidental death in August of this year.
I hope your kitty Theo enjoyed meeting Hepcat Black. Hepcat will be returning with more great rockabilly tunes in future posts.
Thanks again for your visit and comment, dear friend cat!
Hi Shady,
ReplyDeleteI thought she looked familiar! Dad still watches Ozzie and Harriet and I remember the episode you mentioned - I think it was on a few weeks ago. Tomorrow I will have to show dad this post to see if he remembers her.
I love their style and I love her voice. You had me be-bopping along! After a stressful week, your selection helped me unwind. I might have to listen to these on my walk tomorrow.
Have a great thankful Thursday, dear friend!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThanks for coming to guest host Hepcat Black's first rockabilly show, dear friend!
Yessum, please show the post to your dad and see if he recalls the episode of Ozzie and Harriet with Lorrie Collins in a dual role. A few years ago I ran a tribute to rockabilly queen Wanda Jackson. Lorrie Collins had a similar look and vocal style, with a voice that growled at times. She was one of the greats and she will be missed.
Thank you again for tuning in, dear friend JM!
Hi Shady,
DeleteDidn't get a chance today... a lot of drama here currently, but during the week when it's the two of us, I will show him. I hope he does recognize her because I want to hear his stories!
I hope you do another Hepcat Black show! I like his style!
Have a great weekend, dear friend!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteIf your dad shares stories with you about Lorrie Collins, Ricky Nelson or any of the great artists of yesteryear, please share them with me.
Yessum, this was Hepcat Black's debut as SPMM host. He'll be back with more great music from the Heartland in the future posts, so please stick around.
Have a wonderful weekend yourself, dear friend JM!
Hi "Hepcat Black"...you too, Shady! And, Happy Friday...I'm running late this week!
ReplyDeleteThese kids were great, weren't they! They were good from the start, and just progressed in their talent and material as they grew. I could see how Lorrie was presenting a more mature side of herself in the performance of "Rockin Boppin Baby". Her voice was more established and she presented a self confidence about her that was very impressionable. I love the cowgirl and cowboy costumes, still, but the brother and sister even transformed their appearances! That Larry!!! He was audience-charmer, wasn't he! He made me think of Chuck Berry-great on the guitar too!
I always liked Jerry Lee's "High School Confidential", and the Collins Kids did the song justice for sure! They possessed a natural 'bee-bop' ability along with their country roots! I think Jerry Lee probably enjoyed seeing this one!
The Collins kids continued to perform and grow with the industry, didn't they! "Delta Dawn" really hit the charts for several years! And, it's always fun to discover the romances that you may not hear a lot about! I love Rick Nelson, and used to watch the "Ozzie and Harriet Show". I don't remember his duet with Lorrie, but I think Rick should have had more of a singing part in it.
So, "Hepcat Black", I suppose you had a pretty great time putting this post together. I like the way you followed the life and career of this brother and sister, and presented it to us! I must say, you are one handsome host and it will be a pleasure to see you again!
Shady...I'm sorry to be late! I don't think I came to Blogger on Wednesday or Thursday. We've had so much rain, duh! I'm trying not to complain because we so need it. Thank goodness we are not in a flood zone, although we have taken on a lot of water. I am, however, so grateful for the cool weather-right in my zone, lol! This is a wonderful post, Shady! I don't think I remember these two kids, but it was nice to experience their talents and hear their great songs!
Have a great weekend, dear friend! Take Care! ♫
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteI'm excited to see you, dear friend! Thanks for coming over to meet Larry and Lorrie - The Collins Kids. I wish you could have brought along my old buddy Karo, because I think he would have enjoyed this set of rockin', beboppin' rockabilly tunes presented by my new guest host with the most Hepcat Black.
For this post I found the best available live performances by the brother and sister act. I decided to show only live performances because they are such a treat to watch. The Collins Kids made a few other great recordings, but not all of them were performed live and not all of the live performances on YouTube have sound quality that is up to my standards. That is why I regrettably needed to leave some songs out that I otherwise would have posted. The videos that did make the cut all have good to great audio but, as you can see, the grainy old back and white video leaves a lot to be desired. One of the videos posted here is a new hybrid with the original studio sound laid over the vintage Ranch Party show footage.
I'm glad you singled out "High School Confidential" by The Killer. Larry and Lorrie do a fantastic job on the song. They were top notch entertainers, right up there with rockabilly queen Wanda Jackson. Lorrie could sing 'em sweet or sassy depending on the material and the occasion, and young Larry knew how to use the stage and work the crowd into a frenzy with his frantic guitar playing.
Coincidentally I was just discussing the song "Delta Dawn" with a friend on another blog. The version of the song released in 1972 by Tanya Tucker brushed the top 5 on the Country chart but was only a minor hit on the pop chart. In May 1973 Bette Midler released a cover of "Delta Dawn," but it was soon eclipsed by a version released the following month by Helen Reddy, the latter a single that went all the way to #1. Bette cut her losses by switching the A & B designations of her single so that the original B side, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," originally by The Andrews Sisters, became the push side. "Bugle Boy" went on to become a top 10 hit for Bette, and so she made out alright in the deal.
Yessum, Ricky Nelson was quite a ladies man. A few years ago I posted about his romance with actress Yvonne Lime and he also fell for pretty Lorrie Collins. Isn't it a shame an accidental fall ended her life prematurely?
If you enjoyed Hepcat Back and the style of music he presented here, then please stay tuned, because he'll be back hosting more posts in the future.
We aren't getting as much rain as you are, and our temps remain sizzling hot. Please send us a cool front a.s.a.p. I hope all is well with you and Scootie. Thanks again for coming by, dear friend Suzanne, and have a safe and happy weekend!
Wow! I'm surprised (and disappointed) that they didn't become more well-known.
ReplyDeleteRockabilly, like screwball comedy or film noir, is one of those after-the-fact terms coined or popularized long after the era in which it flourished has passed. In the 1950s, if you performed rockabilly you would have been categorized and marketed as either rock and roll (as was Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis) or country-western (as was Johnny Cash and Charlie Rich.) Even though I would argue that the Collins have more in common musically with Jerry Lee Lewis than Tex Ritter, it seems by their style of dress, they were clearly considered country. But you know more about them than I do (everything actually, since this is the first I heard of them) so I could be wrong.
Hi, Kirk!
DeleteThanks for bebopping over, good buddy!
Your observations make sense to me, Kirk. I don't remember the term rockabilly being used back then. Like Wanda Jackson - "The First Lady of Rockabilly" - who, coincidentally turned age 80 today, Lorrie Collins dressed in traditional country apparel and appeared on country music television programs, but sang in a countrified rock 'n' roll style. As you mentioned, she covered Jerry Lee Lewis and sang up tempo rock 'n' roll songs penned by her brother Larry. Lorrie's vocal treatment also leaves me spellbound on her two solo singles. Listen to her dark and dangerous 1959 solo release (described as "50s Haunted Country Popcorn"), a song written by Johnny Cash entitled "Another Man Done Gone." It's backed with another edgy number, the killer B side "The Lonesome Road" (at the 2:55 mark of the same video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5CblwSW_3M
Now listen to Lorrie do the blues and pop standard "Blues In The Night," the A side of her 1960 single:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tdW70mjD9Q
I'm glad you appreciated my salute to The Collins Kids - Larry & Lorrie. I agree it's a shame they didn't become more widely known. I just discovered them a year ago.
I like how the NY Times described Lorrie:
<< Preternaturally self-possessed, Ms. Collins was also highly photogenic — a factor that, coupled with the novelty of the siblings’ youth, earned them regular invitations to appear on shows starring household names like Jackie Gleason and Dinah Shore. >>
The Times also wrote:
<< Nice, however, was hardly how some viewers of “Town Hall Party” thought of Larry Collins gyrating onstage while he and his sister sang rockabilly material rife with sexual innuendo. (Over the hurtling rockabilly groove of “Hot Rod,” Lorrie purred, “I’m only 14, but I’m goin’ on 15 / But I wanna be 16, so I can get me a hot rod.”)
“I got tons of flak and ridicule,” Ms. Collins told L.A. Record. “People were awful to my parents, saying, ‘You shouldn’t let her sing those kinds of songs! You shouldn’t let her dress like that!’ ” >>
It is also a shame lovely Lorrie lost her life as a result of an accidental fall back in August of this year.
Thanks again for coming to chat, good buddy Kirk, and stay tuned for more scary Halloween stuff coming up in my next two posts!
Hiya Tom,
ReplyDeleteWell, I was all set to start out my comment here by talking about how surprised I am that I never heard of these Collins sibings! They are quite the duo. But before I get into that, I was kinda jolted with your last paragraph detailed the cause of death for Lorrie Collins: "complications from a fall". The reason that jolted me was a few weeks ago, the father-in-law of a friend of mine fell when he was puttering around on their patio and he hit his head. He was fine but later began complaining of a really bad headache. So bad that they took him to the hospital and he slipped into a coma and died a few days later. Shocking!
Even more jolting, your mention of Lorrie's demise from a fall is the fact that just a few days ago, I myself fell. I fell on my deck, on the covered part of th deck, with the carpet covering the cement pad. Yeah, I fell like damn tree after someone yells "Timberrrr"....and I came down hard...on my good shoulder. Yep, so now my left shoulder is effed up. I went to my orthopedic surgeon (the one who just did the shoulder reconstruction surgery on my right shoulder back in April) and saw his P.A. The xrays showed no broken bones but the fact that I can't lift my arm over my head is, according to him, symptomatic of a rotator cuff tear. I couldn't help it, I just started crying right there in the room. I can't f***ing believe this! I'm so pissed...and I'm kinda pissed at God right now. When am I gonna catch a damn break here?! I have to go have an MRI on Wednesday this week to see if there's any tears in the cuff or the tendon and go from there. He did give me a cortisone shot right away and the pain has lessened over what it was yesterday so the cortisone must be taking effect. He said though that it's just the first day after the fall and let's give it a week to let it calm down before completely losing it. Will know more by the end of next week, after the doctor gets the MRI results.
I was supposed to do a Blessing of the Greyhounds tomorrow but because I can't drive (I can't turn the steering wheel, which I found out on the way to the doctor's office. Yikes!) and the event is 2 hours away so that would make for a long day with 4 hours of travel time and a 4 hour event.
But I was still able to finish the St Francis treat bags, like the ones I gave away at the last Blessing, and someone from the group came and picked them up this afternoon so that all the attendees can get one. I'll shoot you pics of the medals/medallions: they are nice and the one I think it absolutely stunning. I was up until 4 this morning doing all the prep work for the bags (designing and printing cards, etc) and then I put them all together this morning: took more than six hours and I finished just TEN MINUTES before the woman came to pick them up!
Anyway, the whole "complications from a fall" thing really got to me. I'm always so worried about my mom falling and now I'm losing my balance frequently for some reason. It's scary as you get older. Falling was no big thing when we were young. We just got back up and shook it off and kept going. Today it's questionable if we can even get back up! Lol.
(Part 1 of 2: Comment continued in next Comment post below)
(Comment Part 2 of 2):
DeleteBack to these amazing Collins Kids: "Hoy Hoy" was a nice introduction to them but then it sure got turned up a notch or two with "Hop Skip and Jump" That Larry Collins is somethin' the way he moves around the stage. Those are some serious moves! He kinda reminded me of the video I featured in a post a short time ago the B52s doing Rock Lobster. The constant jumping sparked that video to play in my head:
https://youtu.be/2VCCiY17hKw
But Larry most definitely had way more sophisticated moves than did the b52s frontman. :)
That was a neat bit of trivia, learning that Lorrie and Ricky Nelson dated (were "going steady" Lol). I would imagine that you are probably right, that Ricky and Lorrie are now delighting others with duos up there...
I also really enjoyed "Rock Boppin' Baby" and "High School Confidential".
I never heard of The Ranch Party TV show either! Looks like the Collins kids were frequent visitors on the show.
This was a very cool post and I sure did like HepCat Black hosting! He's one cool cat...
I'll be back around this week to check out your Sunday post.
As always, thanks for the education and the awesome entertainment here. Will HepCat be joining the Shady Bunch as a regular host??
Enjoy your Sunday. I'm going for the ice pack and going to back to bed now...
talk soon,
Michele at Angels Bark
Hi, Michele!
DeleteThank you very much for coming over to catch the live performances of The Collins Kids - Larry and Lorrie. I am very happy to see you, dear friend!
You are a dear friend for staying up late again this week to visit and comment when you could have been resting and recovering. I am terribly sorry to learn of your fall! That's the last thing you needed, and to damage your good arm is indeed a bitter pill to swallow. I can understand why you are shaking your fist at the sky. You are correct. Falls become a major concern as we get older. I have problems with balance, too, and have had a few close calls. Our dear friend Margaret Schneider - "The Oldest Living Dell Rat" fell a few times in her later years and broke her hip at least one time that I recall. Bones and ligaments take longer to heal when we are older. I pray for the best possible outcome for you, Michele!
Yessum, Larry and Lorrie Collins delivered a one-two knockout punch on stage with Larry's guitar virtuosity and his flashy, high energy stage movies and Lorrie's striking looks and sultry singing style. Lorrie routinely put a growl in her vocals similar to that of Rockabilly Queen Wanda Jackson who just turned 80 yesterday. At times Lorrie's voice cracks, an effect called "glottal fry" that makes a song like "High School Confidential" perfectly imperfect.
The content of this post is a new world to me. I remember Tex Ritter from boyhood, but never heard of his Town Hall Party or Ranch Party TV series which showcased the stars of Country & Western music. It seems Larry and Lorrie were in a category all their own, bringing a rockin' rollin' attitude to the show. The duo, an underage boy and girl, performed sex charged songs that were not age appropriate, and they drew criticism from some viewers. Of course, Lorrie also married young at age 17, but she was "long in the tooth" compared to Myra Gale Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis's first cousin once removed. The Killer married Myra when she was age 13!
Since you asked I will let the cat out of the bag and reveal that Hepcat Black is indeed being "groomed" as a Shady Bunch DJ. Stay tuned because Hepcat will be returning to SPMM with more great lineups of songs primarily in the categories of early rock 'n' roll, rockabilly, psychobilly and outlaw country.
You are a dear for promising to come by for my "Sunday post," but my next post will not be published until Tuesday when another old friend drops by to serve as guest host. (Hint - he is another future SPMM Radio deejay!)
Thank you a billion (with a B) for being a great friend and staying up late to comment when you are injured and hurting. Again I am very sorry to hear about this nasty turn of events in your busy life and all the more appreciative that you set aside time to visit Shady's Place and leave such a great comment. Please follow the doctor's orders and have a safe week ahead. I hope your arm is on the mend and I wish you a speedy and complete recovery. Bless you, dear friend Michele!
Tom,
ReplyDeleteI had not heard of the Collins Kids before today. They brother/sister team were quite good. I didn't know that Larry was a songwriter but I do know his chart topper country hit, Delta Dawn. He really enjoyed his mewsic movin' all over the stage. Lorraine had a furtastic voice. I hated to hear that she passed away recently. I'm sure she and Ricky are singing with the angels. Thanks for sharing!
Hi again, Cathy!
DeleteThank you very much for clicking back to this post featuring music from the Heartland by the Collins Kids. I'm glad you didn't miss this post, dear friend.
Yessum, most of us remember the song "Delta Dawn" penned by Larry. It was famously recorded by three different female vocalists - Tanya Tucker, Bette Midler and Helen Reddy. Tanya had a hit with her version on the country chart and Helen had the biggie on the pop chart.
I didn't learn that Lorrie Collins had died until the night before I published the post. I'm glad I double checked. I was shocked and saddened to learn that she died at a relatively young age as a result of a fall. Larry and Lorrie were a dynamite duo who shook things up on stage with their exciting rockabilly/rock 'n' roll performances.
Thanks again for your visit and comment, dear friend Cathy!
Tom,
ReplyDeleteOops, I just notice I referred to Lorrie as 'Lorraine'. I'm still short on sleep and find it easy to make more mistakes. I guess that was a shocker to learn of her death just before publishing this post and from a fall nonetheless. Did she break her hip or what? I hate it when everyone just leaves it at 'complications due to a fall'. There are so many unanswered questions. Oh well...I sure did enjoy learning about the energetic brother/sister singers. Have a good day, my friend!
Hello Mr. Shady! You know I am often late but I always show up to be entertained and gain knowledge about musical people. I never heard of the Collins Kids before. She was a real beauty-she could pass for Annette Funicello's young sister. She knew how to sing these songs even at this young age. Many very young kids were given these songs to sing even if they were not quite sure about the "racy" lyrics. I had to look them up and it is sad that she died too young from a fall. Usually when that happens, when one is older, falls are very dangerous because, when you break a hip or something, you could develop a blood clot that goes to the heart or brain. The one picture I saw of her when she was older, she was blond-she should have kept her dark hair.Her brother is amazing on the guitar!Too bad more people do not know about him either because he is excellent and loves the camera and the shiny suit! I figured, with her looks, that she either dated Ricky, Elvis, Frankie or even Bobby Darin. Her husband being that much older is no surprise as this happened all the time in the tinsel world of entertainment. Look at how many older star today marry someone half their age. Thanks for showcasing someone new.
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
DeleteSorry, I keep forgetting you reply to multiple posts at the same time. I am very happy to see that you clicked back to this post to enjoy the rockabilly and early rock 'n' roll sounds of The Collins Kids.
Here is an interview the siblings conducted nine years ago. As you can see Lorrie had blonde hair. I agree that she was more strikingly beautiful as a brunette:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_64uNhFkj0&t=67s
Yessum, Lorrie married at age 17 but her husband wasn't all that much older - 34. It wasn't as if he was in his 60s, 70s or 80s. I guess you could say it was an April - July marriage rather than a May - December.
I'm thrilled that you got so much out of the post, dear friend BB. Thanks again for coming and enjoy the rest of your week!