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Mel Collins Biography

mel-collins
  • Born:
  • Years Active: 1950s-1980s
  • Genre: Rock & Alternative

As a small child, Mel Collins marveled at the jam sessions that went on at his grandfather's parties. Born in Mississippi, Collins came to Chicago, IL, at a very young age. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Army around the time of the Korean War. Later he returned to Chicago, becoming a police officer and doing bodyguard work for such notables as Frank Sinatra. While a member of the police department, Collins began producing and managing local artists. In the late '60s, he teamed with singer/songwriter Jo Armstead, forming the Giant and Glory labels. Their first success was Ruby Andrews' "Casanova (Your Playing Days Are Over)," released on Ric Williams' Zodiac label, which went to number nine R&B in summer 1967. Other hits followed: Jo Armstead's "Stone Cold Lover" went to number 28 R&B in spring 1968. Giant's only million-selling single was Garland Green's "Jealous Kind of Fella," which was leased to MCA's Uni label and went to number five R&B on Billboard's charts in summer 1969. Other artists on the roster were Fenton Robinson )"Somebody Loan Me a Dime"), Little Jimmy Scott, Shirley Wahls, and Smokey Smothers. Giant folded in 1970. During the '80s, Collins attended Chicago's Columbia College and received a degree in television production and hosted the WLS-AM gospel show Heaven Bound. He kept his hand in music by owning Colfam music publishing company, the Gamma label, and Amalgamated Blues Association Productions and organized fundraisers for various charities. At the age of 67, Mel Collins died of lung cancer on March 22, 2000, in Maywood, IL. Mel Collins-related releases are Ruby Andrews: Golden Classics, the 1995 Varese Sarabande CD, and Jealous Kind of Fella and the compilation CDs Lifestyles of the Slow and Low and R&B Crossover Oldies, Vol. 2. ~ Ed Hogan, Rovi

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