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Speaking of Houston Blues, How About Big Roger Collins??

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ChicagoB...@aol.com

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Jun 9, 2003, 12:06:20 AM6/9/03
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Peeps,

I'm listeing to the most incredible Lp by Big Roger Collins called "Houston
Blues." Its nt the Lunar #2 Label. It will be hard to track down but its well
worth it. This thing is killing me! Liner notes say its a Tom Usselmann
Production. Where is Tom? I need to shake his hand.

Anyone here have any Big Roger Collins stories? Does he figure large in the
Houston book?

CB



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Twist Turner

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Jun 9, 2003, 9:01:45 AM6/9/03
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I really like his galaxy sides, but I saw him perform once at the San
Francisco Blues festival and it was pretty much a mess.

Twist Turner
http://members.tripod.com/~Twist_Turner/index.html

HAS...@aol.com

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Jun 9, 2003, 4:34:59 PM6/9/03
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In a message dated 6/9/03 2:23:07 PM, edmo...@attbi.com writes:

<<Big Roger Collins passed away in 2001. I think you may have seen former
Galaxy artist, Rodger Collins at The SFBF. Our Bass player, Ted Wysinger played
on the original Rodger Collins hit, "She's Lookin' Good.">>

I love that cut!
Covered it a few years back on a Mitch Palmer CD.
HB

Steve Edmonson

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Jun 9, 2003, 4:22:35 PM6/9/03
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Twist,

Big Roger Collins passed away in 2001. I think you may have seen former Galaxy artist, Rodger Collins at The SFBF. Our Bass player, Ted Wysinger played on the original Rodger Collins hit, "She's Lookin' Good." He remains friends with Rodger, and still sees him often. He tells me that Rodger is still living in Oakland, but rarely gigs anymore. I think Ted is bringing Rodger to this Friday's gig. The following is an obit on Big Roger Collins form The Houston Chronicle in 2001.

Oct. 4, 2001, 10:03PM

Big Roger Collins, bluesman eager to help others

By CLAUDIA FELDMAN and KRISTEN MACK
Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle

Big Roger Collins, a local blues singer known for his music and his eagerness to help others, died Tuesday at his home in Crosby. He was 66. Collins died of a heart attack, family members said. Although many knew him by his stage name, his family called him by his birth name, Freddie. "Uncle Freddie was always somewhere," said his niece, Evelyn Smith. "He was moving a little slow, but it didn't stop him from doing what he was trying to do." Smith said Collins went out of his way to help others and liked to cook and feed people. "He was a country man. He loved to have family over to eat and he liked to impress," she said. "His showoff was gumbo."

Collins was raised in Bayou Chicot, La. He was a truck driver and had a band called the Highway Blues Band. For a while, he also had a blues show on KPFT-90.1 FM. He loved zydeco music almost as much as the blues. Joe "Guitar" Hughes, an old friend and colleague, said Collins spent his life helping others. "The city is going to miss him very much. He was a blues singer, and he sung good. He sounded good to me," Hughes said. Patrick Black, co-owner of Shakespeare Pub, remembers when Collins came to him 10 years ago and suggested a benefit for the Houston Food Bank. Last November was their 10th and most successful effort -- they collected more than 6,500 pounds of food and more than $3,000.
"Roger was just the kind of fellow, even if he never had a lot in life, he always looked at the good and he knew he had a hot meal," Black said. "He saw people not as fortunate as he was, and he wanted to do something to help." The Blues for Food drive will be Nov. 11, Black said. This year, it will be named in honor of Collins, Black said. Those who would like to participate should bring some nonperishable food to the pub, 14129 Memorial Drive. In return, they will receive a plate of barbecue.

Collins is survived by his wife, Beatrice, two daughters, Sharella Murphy and Mary Smith; and five grandchildren.

Take Care,

Steve Edmonson
edmo...@attbi.com
The Jackie Payne-Steve Edmonson Band
http://www.payne-edmonson.com

Twist Turner

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Jun 9, 2003, 7:56:48 PM6/9/03
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Ooops, I had no idea there was a Roger Collins and a Rodger Collins, I
thought they were both the same guy, never noticed the spelling
difference. Yeah, I saw Big Rodger Collins the one who did She's
Looking Good.

c. n.

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Jun 9, 2003, 8:34:37 PM6/9/03
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Odd isn't it, that just when you tell folks how boring this list is--some of
them turn right around and teach you something. And so it goes. . .
chuck


>From: Twist Turner <blues...@webtv.net>
>Reply-To: Twist Turner <blues...@webtv.net>
>To: BLU...@LISTS.NETSPACE.ORG
>Subject: Re: Speaking of Houston Blues, How About Big Roger Collins??

>Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2003 18:56:45 -0500
>
>Ooops, I had no idea there was a Roger Collins and a Rodger Collins, I
>thought they were both the same guy, never noticed the spelling
>difference. Yeah, I saw Big Rodger Collins the one who did She's
>Looking Good.
>
>Twist Turner

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