The Collins Kids

The Collins Kids was a rockabilly duo who first came to prominence in 1954 when they first became regular performers on the televised music show Town Hall Party, which eventually became Tex Ritter’s Ranch Party. Comprised of siblings Lawrencine May ‘Lorrie’ Collins (born in Creek County, Oklahoma on May 7, 1942) and younger brother Lawrence ‘Larry’ Collins (born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on October 4, 1944), the duo’s popularity on the TV show led to the release of their first single “Beetle-Bug-Bop,” released in 1955. Further singles included “Rock And Roll Polka” (1956), “The Rockaway Rock” (1956), “Heartbeat” (1957), “Young Heart” (1957), “Hoy Hoy” (1958), and “Mercy” (1958). Lorrie Collins began dating teen idol Ricky Nelson and appeared as his girlfriend in an episode of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet in 1958. Even though Ricky lobbied to have her added as a series regular, she never appeared on the show again and she continued recording and performing live with her brother Larry. The Collins Kids released two singles in 1959 – “Sugar Plum” and “Another Man Done Gone” (the A-side credited to Lorrie) – before Lorrie married and had her first child, bringing The Collins Kids’ heavy schedule to a halt in 1961. They would occasionally perform together over the next several decades, but nothing long term. Larry Collins continued to perform well into the 1960s before becoming a producer and hit songwriter, lending his talents as a co-writer to songs like the Tanya Tucker / Helen Reddy hit “Delta Dawn” and “You’re The Reason God Made Oklahoma,” a 1981 hit for David Frizzell and Shelley West. While the duo never released a full album during their heyday in the 1950s, there have been many compilations released over the years including Town Hall Party – Rockin’ Rollin’ Collins Kids (1977), Hop Skip & Jump (1993), The Rockaway Rock: 1955-1962 Recordings (2016), and Anthology: The Deluxe Collection (2020). Lorrie Collins died on August 4, 2018, in Reno, Nevada at the age of 76. Larry Collins died on January 5, 2024, in Santa Clarita, California at the age of 79.

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