RAY COLLINS
RAY COLLINS
Big Apple, NY
Folk / / Acoustic/ World/Celtic/Singer-Songwriter
|
Join the Mailing List |
Singer-songwriter/guitarist: Ray hails from Belfast City in the North of Ireland. His musical roots are embedded in the rich ballad tradition of his native land. His original songs twig those roots with other branches of music, most notably "folk" and "rock", producing his distinctive driving, rhythmic style. His first 'major' public singing engagements were on the picket-lines and rallies of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.
Many years later he is still singing and writing songs which relate his experiences of life and death in Belfast and beyond!!
Collins also spent much of his riotous turbulent youth playing the illegal late night shebeens, smoke-filled rowdy bars, and jam-packed boisterous clubs of Belfast, oft' times without the aid of a PA system.
In the '60s and '70s he spent various chunks of time in London, England, playing the bars and clubs there, with occasional sorties to Glasgow, Scotland, and frequent trips to Europe.
In the early 1980's Collins toured Europe eventually settling in Paris where he played a resident gig at the Guinness Tavern.
Ray has performed with a variety of artists including Luke Kelly (The Dubliners); The Clancy Brothers; Eamonn McGirr ;The WolfeTones; Pete Seeger; Richie Havens;
Sean O'Connor & The Look-a-Likes ; Black '47; and Shenachai.
In 1984 Collins embarked on a 3-month coast-to-coast tour of the United States and Canada, playing bars, cafes, coffee houses, colleges, press clubs, concert halls, festivals, and appearing on television and radio.
During this extensive tour Collins played several benefit concerts for the American Indian Movement from which he developed a strong friendship and close cultural bond with singer-songwriter/actor Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman, (Dances with Wolves;Son of the Morning Star) of the Sisseton-Wahapteh-Dakota (Sioux) Nation
It was during this American tour that Collins began a long-term love affair with
New York City , which has become his second home.
While in the Big Apple Collins worked at the famed Irish Arts Center in Hell's Kitchen, forming a friendship with Irish filmmaker and Director Jim Sheridan, (My Left Foot, In the Name of the Father, In America).
In 1986 Collins played the lead role of James Connolly in Connolly's play
'Under Which Flag ', directed by Sheridan, with music and songs arranged by Collins.
In the same year "In Belfast Town", a one-man-show written , produced, and performed by Collins, had it's American premiere at the Irish Arts Center. The show is a social history of Belfast in song, story, verse, and prose, with especial reference to Collins's family neighbourhood; the York Street/Sailortown District around the Belfast Docks.
Jim Sheridan praised Collins's performance as:
"As I Roved Back to York Street", a song originally written by Collins as the finale to "In Belfast Town " eventually became the title track of his 1996 album,
"As I Roved Back..."
Collaborating with his close friend, Dublin Rock Star Sean O'Connor, they co-produced this album of original songs depicting Collins's adventures on the road and relating his experiences of life in his native Belfast.
Joining Collins and O'Connor on the album are New Yorker Dave Sandler on drums; Black '47 member Geoff Blythe on saxophones; and Dublin chanteuse Susan McKeown singing backing vocals.
Ray is currently working on a number of new songs which will form the basis of at least 2 full length CDs to be released in 2008. Some of these songs will be available online in the coming months. We'll keep you posted. Ray is also working on arrangements of a number songs which have been a staple , since his early years, of his vast repertoire of Irish Traditional and Rebel songs, much requested by his dedicated long term fans; but which he has never recorded.
Many years later he is still singing and writing songs which relate his experiences of life and death in Belfast and beyond!!
Collins also spent much of his riotous turbulent youth playing the illegal late night shebeens, smoke-filled rowdy bars, and jam-packed boisterous clubs of Belfast, oft' times without the aid of a PA system.
In the '60s and '70s he spent various chunks of time in London, England, playing the bars and clubs there, with occasional sorties to Glasgow, Scotland, and frequent trips to Europe.
In the early 1980's Collins toured Europe eventually settling in Paris where he played a resident gig at the Guinness Tavern.
Ray has performed with a variety of artists including Luke Kelly (The Dubliners); The Clancy Brothers; Eamonn McGirr ;The WolfeTones; Pete Seeger; Richie Havens;
Sean O'Connor & The Look-a-Likes ; Black '47; and Shenachai.
In 1984 Collins embarked on a 3-month coast-to-coast tour of the United States and Canada, playing bars, cafes, coffee houses, colleges, press clubs, concert halls, festivals, and appearing on television and radio.
During this extensive tour Collins played several benefit concerts for the American Indian Movement from which he developed a strong friendship and close cultural bond with singer-songwriter/actor Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman, (Dances with Wolves;Son of the Morning Star) of the Sisseton-Wahapteh-Dakota (Sioux) Nation
It was during this American tour that Collins began a long-term love affair with
New York City , which has become his second home.
While in the Big Apple Collins worked at the famed Irish Arts Center in Hell's Kitchen, forming a friendship with Irish filmmaker and Director Jim Sheridan, (My Left Foot, In the Name of the Father, In America).
In 1986 Collins played the lead role of James Connolly in Connolly's play
'Under Which Flag ', directed by Sheridan, with music and songs arranged by Collins.
In the same year "In Belfast Town", a one-man-show written , produced, and performed by Collins, had it's American premiere at the Irish Arts Center. The show is a social history of Belfast in song, story, verse, and prose, with especial reference to Collins's family neighbourhood; the York Street/Sailortown District around the Belfast Docks.
Jim Sheridan praised Collins's performance as:
"a masterful portrayal of the enduring spirit and strength
of the people of Belfast."
of the people of Belfast."
"As I Roved Back to York Street", a song originally written by Collins as the finale to "In Belfast Town " eventually became the title track of his 1996 album,
"As I Roved Back..."
Collaborating with his close friend, Dublin Rock Star Sean O'Connor, they co-produced this album of original songs depicting Collins's adventures on the road and relating his experiences of life in his native Belfast.
Joining Collins and O'Connor on the album are New Yorker Dave Sandler on drums; Black '47 member Geoff Blythe on saxophones; and Dublin chanteuse Susan McKeown singing backing vocals.
Ray is currently working on a number of new songs which will form the basis of at least 2 full length CDs to be released in 2008. Some of these songs will be available online in the coming months. We'll keep you posted. Ray is also working on arrangements of a number songs which have been a staple , since his early years, of his vast repertoire of Irish Traditional and Rebel songs, much requested by his dedicated long term fans; but which he has never recorded.
“THANKS” for stopping by
Come back soon
“Slainte”
Ray
WHAT THEY "SAY" ABOUT RAY
"Belfast Punter".. a surefire hit.."
IRISH NEWS, BELFAST
"A versatile musician as well as a noted balladeer, "As I Roved Back", is his most mature work to date...the raw energy and passion of his earlier music being harnessed into a disciplined set of self-penned songs."
ANDERSONSTOWN NEWS, BELFAST
"As I Roved Back provides, through its largely autobiographical material, a clear view of what makes Ray Collins tick,as well as providing an exciting entry in a growing trend. Forget what you've heard about Seattle. Ireland and Irish New York are the cutting edge of music today. "Rock on."
IRISH PEOPLE, NEW YORK
"Ray Collins is a musician who writes songs that sum up life- all the little things that make living bearable (or not),who see traits, normally ignored or taken for granted, which pinpoint the essence of a character. He writes with humor and pathos and performs in an absorbing style.
IRISH EDITION, PHILADELPHIA
"..another excellent recording from Ray Collins.. just wish he'd manage to get to the Bay area a bit more often, especially after his previous rousing visits here...
SAN FRANCISCO GAEL
"An excellent recording. Ray is tough and witty like the city he hails from"
FILMMAKER JIM SHERIDAN
"I'd rather be at home ..with RAY"
AMY WINEHOUSE
"A Darhling Boy, A Darhling Boy, my favourite Irish Rebel Singer"
QUEEN ELIZABETH II
"Don't believe a word he says, lying bastard, we never had incestuous sex"
Joan Collins
WHAT THEY "SAY" ABOUT RAY
"A fine tribute to the punters of Belfast from one of their own."
BELFAST TELEGRAPH
BELFAST TELEGRAPH
"Belfast Punter".. a surefire hit.."
IRISH NEWS, BELFAST
"A versatile musician as well as a noted balladeer, "As I Roved Back", is his most mature work to date...the raw energy and passion of his earlier music being harnessed into a disciplined set of self-penned songs."
ANDERSONSTOWN NEWS, BELFAST
"As I Roved Back provides, through its largely autobiographical material, a clear view of what makes Ray Collins tick,as well as providing an exciting entry in a growing trend. Forget what you've heard about Seattle. Ireland and Irish New York are the cutting edge of music today. "Rock on."
IRISH PEOPLE, NEW YORK
"Ray Collins is a musician who writes songs that sum up life- all the little things that make living bearable (or not),who see traits, normally ignored or taken for granted, which pinpoint the essence of a character. He writes with humor and pathos and performs in an absorbing style.
IRISH EDITION, PHILADELPHIA
"..another excellent recording from Ray Collins.. just wish he'd manage to get to the Bay area a bit more often, especially after his previous rousing visits here...
SAN FRANCISCO GAEL
"An excellent recording. Ray is tough and witty like the city he hails from"
FILMMAKER JIM SHERIDAN
"I'd rather be at home ..with RAY"
AMY WINEHOUSE
"A Darhling Boy, A Darhling Boy, my favourite Irish Rebel Singer"
QUEEN ELIZABETH II
"Don't believe a word he says, lying bastard, we never had incestuous sex"
Joan Collins
This artist recommends
Contests/Events
