The Collins Kids

The Collins Kids were a juvenile rockabilly duo, featuring brother Larry Collins (born October 4, 1944, in Tulsa, Oklahoma) and sister Lorrie Collins (born May 7, 1942, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma). Their hits, such as "Hop, Skip and Jump", "Beetle Bug Bop" and "Hoy Hoy", were geared towards kids, but their infectious singing and playing crossed over generations. Larry, a lightning-fingered guitar whiz at the age of 10, was known for playing a double-neck Mosrite guitar like his mentor Joe Maphis. They were regular performers on Tex Ritter's Town Hall Party television show. Larry went on to produce many country hits and wrote the songs "Delta Dawn" and "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma."

Related Topics:
Rockabilly - Larry Collins - October 4 - 1944 - Tulsa, Oklahoma - Lorrie Collins - May 7 - 1942 - Tahlequah, Oklahoma - Mosrite - Joe Maphis - Tex Ritter - Town Hall Party - Delta Dawn

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In the late 1950s, Lorrie was the first girlfriend of television star and teen idol Ricky Nelson, in his family's top rated show "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriett", and in private life as well, even though she was only 16 years old.

Related Topics:
Teen idol - Ricky Nelson

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In 1959, when Lorrie was 17, she married Stu Carnall, who was Johnny Cash's manager and twice her age. She continued acting and singing with Ricky on the television show and recording and touring with her brother Larry until 1961 when she gave birth to her first child and retired at the grand old age of 19. That was the end of the line for the Collins Kids as a performing duo, but with the Rockabilly revival, they've reunited for performances beginning in the '90s and they continue to play to huge crowds on the rockabilly revival circuit.

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