Best Rockabilly Duo You Never Heard Of

January 31, 2017 11:43 AM

I stumbled across the Collins Kids on another site. As teenagers they were the best rockabilly duo I have ever seen, making the Everly Brothers look like amateurs. They were regulars on Western Ranch Party and similar shows in the '50s. They made as at least one appearance on Grand Ol' Opry when he was 12 and she was 14.

The act broke up in 1959 when Lorrie eloped at the age of 17 with a man almost twice her age. They have reunited a few times since, but the momentum was gone after that.

By the age of 13, Larry Collins was good enough to play guitar in any band in the world. By the age of 15, Lorrie could deliver convincing blues tunes (she is 14 here, he is 12). Wait for it. Shake, Rattle and Roll. Problems, Problems. Great Balls of Fire. Hoy, Hoy, Hoy

posted by Repack Rider (14 comments total)

I have one of their records! Mostly because I think their version of Walking The Floor is the best I've heard. It's so much better for a boot scoot than the Ernest Tubbs version (apologies Ernest, I love you!)
posted by Duffington at 11:55 AM on January 31, 2017 [1 favorite]

The Collins Kids are an absolute blast and one of my faves. Thanks for spreading the word.
posted by jonmc at 12:01 PM on January 31, 2017

I never heard of these kids, but they're darn good—thanks for the post!
posted by languagehat at 12:10 PM on January 31, 2017

I love this duo!
But let's not shit on the great Everly Brothers to lift them up. The Everly Bros. never really sold themselves as a Rockabilly duo. And they never looked like amateurs IMO.
posted by tunewell at 12:26 PM on January 31, 2017 [6 favorites]

In the Collins Kids discog, Whistle Bait is the one for me.
posted by bendybendy at 2:01 PM on January 31, 2017 [2 favorites]

Oh man, the Collins Kids. This song is so absolutely one of my all-time favorites, I had to doublecheck and make sure I didn't post it* here before.

*I don't think I have.
posted by thivaia at 2:04 PM on January 31, 2017 [2 favorites]

The Everly Bros. never really sold themselves as a Rockabilly duo. And they never looked like amateurs IMO.

I worked on a show with them in the '70s at the Fillmore West when I was a rock band roadie. They had reunited after decades apart.

But they were definitely rockabilly, along with Johnny Cash, Marvin Rainwater and Buddy Holly
posted by Repack Rider at 3:34 PM on January 31, 2017 [1 favorite]

the Collins Kids. This song (yt) is so absolutely one of my all-time favorites,

She sounds like a 40-year old torch singer on that.

She was seventeen.
posted by Repack Rider at 3:49 PM on January 31, 2017 [2 favorites]

Good stuff, and new to me as well. Thanks for the post. Larry especially seems to enjoy himself jumping around on Hop, Skip, And Jump and ‘Larry’ B. Goode.
posted by LeLiLo at 4:10 PM on January 31, 2017

Lots of talent between them. This is a great post!
posted by mixedmetaphors at 6:04 PM on January 31, 2017

There's great TV footage of them singing High School Confidential, which I don't think had a single release.
posted by jonp72 at 7:56 PM on January 31, 2017 [1 favorite]

I don't think little Larry is playing the solo in the Grand Ol' Opry link but boy has he got spunk!
posted by piglord at 10:18 PM on January 31, 2017

but the momentum was gone after that

Larry Collins co-wrote "Delta Dawn." That's plenty.
posted by Sys Rq at 11:59 PM on January 31, 2017 [1 favorite]

(It occurs to me that that could be read as an insult. That was not my intention. He probably made a truckload off of that one, is all. Deservedly!)
posted by Sys Rq at 12:00 AM on February 1, 2017 [1 favorite]