Collins, Albert (1932–1993)

US blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. His distinctive guitar sound was based on open D-minor tuning; calling it ‘cold blues’, he gave his albums titles such as Frosty (1962), Frostbite (1980), and Cold Snap (1986).

Collins was born in Texas and learned the guitar from his cousin Lightnin' Hopkins (1912–1982). He began playing in clubs in Houston and worked as a session musician; his first record was an instrumental, ‘The Freeze’ (1958). He did not sing on record until ten years later, on the album Love Can Be Found Anywhere (Even in a Guitar). Popular as a live performer, and highly rated by his fellow musicians, he worked at various times with rock-and-roll singer Little Richard, jazz guitarist Larry Burton (1951– ), blues guitarist Robert Cray (1953– ), and avant-garde musician John Zorn (1953– ), among others. Collins won a Grammy award for his album Showdown! (1985).