Lorrie and Larry Collins were a phenomenon in the 1950s. This brother and sister duo, who called themselves The Collins Kids, were mere children when they started performing country music. Lorrie had an amazing voice as well as beauty and charm, while Larry who was two years younger was already a guitar wizard by the age of 10. When they switched from strictly country to incorporating rockabilly in 1954, Larry was just 12 and Lorrie 14. But their tender young ages didn't stop them from making rockabilly history.
Because they were so young, the duo's music was initially geared toward children. But Lorrie was such a compelling singer and Larry such an exuberant performer that they crossed generational boundaries and held unexpected appeal to older listeners even more so than younger.
Larry, who had been schooled in country guitar by his mentor Joe Maphis, was a bundle of energy who hopped, skipped, and jumped around the stage while never missing a lick on his unusual double-necked Mosrite guitar (which was a smaller version of the guitar Maphis played). Larry and Maphis would often appear together when Maphis would reach around Larry's back and play one neck of the guitar as Larry played the other. The two would trade solos and often trade which neck they were playing. For the mid 50s it was quite a show!
As Lorrie matured, she became quite beautiful which certainly helped the duo's popularity (in fact, she became teen idol Ricky Nelson's first real girlfriend and appeared in a dual role on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet in which she played twin sisters), but she was much, much more than just a pretty face. Her singing was every bit as lovely as her face and with Larry chiming in on harmony vocals, they were lots of fun to watch and listen to.
"Hopping, skipping, and jumping" is an apt description of Larry's stage antics, and the phrase became the title to one of their most-loved rockabilly songs, "Hop, Skip, and Jump." The duo also became regulars on the Town Hall Party country music show and there is a lot of great archival video of their performances.
The Collins Kids continued to perform well into the 60s when they adopted a more folk/rock/British Invasion look. Later, Larry continued on in the music business as a successful song writer and found success with two Grammy-nominated hits, "Delta Dawn" and "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma."
In the early 90s the two reunited and began performing once again under the name The Collins Kids and have been an energetic part of the revival scene since then.
Because they were so young, the duo's music was initially geared toward children. But Lorrie was such a compelling singer and Larry such an exuberant performer that they crossed generational boundaries and held unexpected appeal to older listeners even more so than younger.
Larry, who had been schooled in country guitar by his mentor Joe Maphis, was a bundle of energy who hopped, skipped, and jumped around the stage while never missing a lick on his unusual double-necked Mosrite guitar (which was a smaller version of the guitar Maphis played). Larry and Maphis would often appear together when Maphis would reach around Larry's back and play one neck of the guitar as Larry played the other. The two would trade solos and often trade which neck they were playing. For the mid 50s it was quite a show!
As Lorrie matured, she became quite beautiful which certainly helped the duo's popularity (in fact, she became teen idol Ricky Nelson's first real girlfriend and appeared in a dual role on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet in which she played twin sisters), but she was much, much more than just a pretty face. Her singing was every bit as lovely as her face and with Larry chiming in on harmony vocals, they were lots of fun to watch and listen to.
"Hopping, skipping, and jumping" is an apt description of Larry's stage antics, and the phrase became the title to one of their most-loved rockabilly songs, "Hop, Skip, and Jump." The duo also became regulars on the Town Hall Party country music show and there is a lot of great archival video of their performances.
The Collins Kids continued to perform well into the 60s when they adopted a more folk/rock/British Invasion look. Later, Larry continued on in the music business as a successful song writer and found success with two Grammy-nominated hits, "Delta Dawn" and "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma."
In the early 90s the two reunited and began performing once again under the name The Collins Kids and have been an energetic part of the revival scene since then.
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