Cal Collins

Cal Collins (b. Medora, Indiana, May 5, 1933 – d. August 27, 2001) – Guitarist. Originally a bluegrass mandolin player, Collins switched to jazz guitar after serving in the army. A resident of the Cincinnati area, he was well known in the Indiana and Ohio jazz milieu from the 1950s through the 1970s. In 1976, he joined Benny Goodman’s band for a three-year stint. During that time, he became the house guitarist for Concord Records, for which he also recorded several solo albums from 1978 to 1991. His solo work is marked by a mix of jazz and country picking with an abundance of full-chord melodic playing. In the latter part of his career, he continued to play in the Cincinnati area before dying of liver failure in 2001.