ZEPFAN17 Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Mothers of Invention Co-Founder Ray Collins Dies at 76 Ray Collins, the singer and co-founder of the Mothers of Invention, died on Monday (Dec. 24) in Pomona, Calif. He had been hospitalized since Dec. 18 after suffering a massive heart attack, and was removed from life support on Saturday. He was 76 years old. Collins grew up in Pomona and got his musical start singing falsetto in a succession of doo wop groups. Collins was fronting a group called the Soul Giants when he and the band’s guitarist got into an altercation, and when he was looking around for a replacement, he called upon a young musician named Frank Zappa, whom he had met when Zappa played a gig in Pomona. Zappa’s presence in the band quickly turned them from an R&B and soul cover act into an original group with an emphasis on performing Zappa’s compositions, which were an amalgam of rock, soul, R&B, jazz, classical and virtually every other form of music, with lyrics that satirized modern culture. The group changed their name to the Mothers of Invention, with Collins continuing as their lead singer, and in the counterculture atmosphere of the mid-’60s they were able to land a recording contract. Collins served as lead singer for the Mothers’ debut album ‘Freak Out!’ in 1966, as well as its follow-up, 1967′s ‘Absolutely Free.’ He quite the group after that, finding Zappa’s outlandish compositional style and satirical lyrics more and more at odds with what he wanted to do musically. “I wanted to make beautiful music,” he recalled to the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin in 2009. “I was raised on Johnny Mathis and Nat King Cole.” He was also uncomfortable with the group’s outrageous stage shows. “I didn’t like doing that stuff onstage. Too much comedy, too much making fun of stuff.” He returned to the band briefly for the 1968 album ‘Cruising With Ruben & the Jets,’ and continued to contribute to Zappa’s albums off and on throughout the ’70s. He went on to eke out a living as a taxi driver, and later as a dish washer, but never pursued any further musical career to any degree of public success. Though he quit the Mothers before they became profitable, he said that a modest settlement from Zappa and twice-yearly royalties from an old doo wop song he wrote, as well as Social Security in his later years, allowed him to get by, though he led an admittedly hand-to-mouth existence. Some press reports claim he was living out of his van for the last eight years of his life. “People will ask why it’s been 40 years since I’ve been onstage. I don’t know,” Collins admitted. “If you just enjoy life, it’s conducive to not being successful. You know what I mean? I just enjoy life.” Thumbnails attatched FROM UCR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the chase Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Co-founder of one of the most original bands of all time... Frank Zappa got better and better musicians through the years but the original Mothers had something he never quite re-captured. Rest in Peace Mr. Collins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock Historian Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 ^ I agree Chase. Zappa always had exceptional musicians surrounding him, and he released many great/far out pieces of "music" in some cases- LOL. Apostrophe, is one of my favorites from him. But, the Mother's were the peak of Zappa's creative career, IMO. This is one of my all time favorites...Nothing else quite like it. Freak Out album - Ray Collins – harmonica, cymbals, sound effects, tambourine, vocals, finger cymbals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidZoso Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 R.I.P. Ray. I am so glad the Zappa family are re-releasing all of Zappa's cds. I have picked up Zoot Allures, Live in New York, You are what you Is, The Man from Utopia recently. I have most all the other 60-something already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Dawg Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 It is ironic how Collins kicked the guitarist out of Mothers to bring in Frank. Zappa then took control of the band and Collins said he felt like an outcast. http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_12484780 A google image search of his name brings up a lot of mug shots of crusty looking dudes. Thankfully none of the mugshots are of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weslgarlic Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Direct Directly from my heart to you Direct Directly from my heart to you Oh, you know that I love you That's why I feel so blue Oh, I pray Our love would last away I pray That our love would last away Yeah, we'd be so happy together But you're so far away Well, I need (Oh, baby, need you baby) I need you by my side Well, I need Yes, I need you by my side Oh, I'd loved you little darlin' Your love I could never hide Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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