Wikipedia

Mel Collins

Melvyn Desmond Collins(born 5 September 1947,Isle of Man) is a British saxophonist,flautistandsession musician.

Mel Collins
Collins performing with Dire Straits legacy in 2022
Collins performing withDire Straitslegacy in 2022
Background information
Birth nameMelvyn Desmond Collins
Born(1947-09-05)5 September 1947(age 77)
OriginIsle of Man
GenresProgressive rock,jazz fusion,rock
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Saxophone,flute,keyboards
Member of
Formerly of

Collins has played in severalprogressive rockgroups, having been a member ofKing Crimsonon two occasions (the first from 1970 to 1972 and the second from 2013 to 2021) and having played withCamel,theAlan Parsons Project,Roger WatersandChris Squire.He has also worked in a wide variety of contexts ranging fromR&Bandblues rocktojazz.

Career

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Collins was born into a family of musicians. His mother was Bebe Collins a singer while his father was Derek Collins asaxophonistandsession musicianwho toured withJudy GarlandandShirley Bassey.

Collins has worked with a large number of notable recording artists,[1]including10cc,Alexis Korner,Alvin Lee,Child,Clannad,Eric Clapton,Bad Company,Pino Daniele,Dire Straits,Bryan Ferry,Roger Chapman,Marianne Faithfull,The Rolling Stones,Roger Waters,[2]Gerry Rafferty,Tears for Fears,Go WestandJoan Armatrading.

He was a member ofprogressive rockbandsKing Crimson,Camel,and sessioned withThe Alan Parsons Project.For King Crimson he wasIan McDonald's replacement, playing on the albumsIn the Wake of Poseidon(1970),Lizard(1970),Islands(1971) andEarthbound(1972). He left King Crimson in 1972, later contributing to the albumRed(1974) as a session musician. He played on theCrimson Jazz Trio's second album,The King Crimson Songbook, Volume Two,released in 2009.

Collins played the saxophone solo onThe Rolling Stones1978 hit single, "Miss You",[3]and joined Dire Straits in 1983 on their eight month longLove over Gold Tourand their live album,Alchemy.He was one of the members ofKokomowithTony O'Malley,Neil Hubbard,Paddy McHugh,Frank Collins,Dyan Birch,andAlan Spenner,and is a frequent performer with Tony O'Malley.

In 1983, Collins played the saxophone solo on the hit single "Private Dancer",the title cut onTina Turner's album by the same name. His solo was recorded in England at the Wessex Studios.[4]

In 1984 Collins played saxophone inPino Daniele's albumMusicante,having previously toured with the Neapolitan blues man. In the same year, Collins toured withRoger Watersto support the albumThe Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking. In 1985 Collins was part of the supergroup 'Willie and the Poor Boys' appearing in their video withBill WymanandJimmy Page.He toured again with Waters on a second leg of the 'Pros and Cons' tour. That same year, he also appeared on the albumSongs From The Big ChairbyTears for Fears,playing saxophone on "The Working Hour". In 1986 he was a musician on the animated filmWhen the Wind Blows.He worked again with Waters in 1987, appearing on both the albumRadio K.A.O.S.and the subsequent tour, and in 1988 again with Daniele on the albumBonne Soiréeand the subsequent tour.

From 1996-2004, we was a band member onDie Harald Schmidt Show,with band leader Helmut Zerlett.[5]

From 2002–07 Collins was a member of theKing Crimsonoffshoot group21st Century Schizoid Band,with other former Crimson members.

In May 2008 Kokomo was reformed temporarily. With Collins were Tony O'Malley, Neil Hubbard,Mark Smith,Adam Phillips,Andy Hamilton,Paddy McHugh, Dyan Birch, Frank Collins, Bernie Holland, and Glen Le Fleur.

Collins played woodwinds on the 2011King CrimsonProjeKct 7,A Scarcity of Miracles,appearing on a King Crimson related album for the first time since 1974. In September 2013,Robert Frippconfirmed that Mel Collins would be a member of King Crimson again, the band being referred to as King Crimson VIII.

Collins was also a member ofPete Haycock's reformation of theClimax Blues Bandin 2013, prior to Haycock's death in October 2013.

Collins is currently a member of Dire Straits Legacy, a band dedicated to playing music byDire Straits,dubbed as "the closest you’re going to get!"[6]The band features Collins on saxophone, alongside fellow former Dire Straits touring members: Danny Cummings (percussion, vocals) andPhil Palmer(guitar, vocals), former Dire Straits members:Alan Clark(keyboards) andJack Sonni(guitar, vocals) alongside record producerTrevor Horn(bass, vocals) as well as Marco Cavigila (lead guitar, vocals) and Primiano Dibiase (keyboards).[7]The band have recorded on Studio album "3 Chord Trick".[8]

Selected discography

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as Band member/sideman

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Session work

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Collins has done session work for many different artists, among themJoan Armatrading,Bad Company,Camel,Jim Capaldi,Clannad,Bryan Ferry,Alexis Korner,Alvin Lee,Phil Manzanera/801,Anthony Phillips,Chris SquireandGerry Rafferty

Collaborations

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Bands by years

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Timeline

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References

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  1. ^"Collins".Answers.com.Retrieved15 January2011.
  2. ^McPherson, Ian."Collins with the Rolling Stones".timeisonourside.com.Retrieved15 January2011.
  3. ^"'Miss You' – Rolling Stones ".timeisonourside.com.Retrieved29 August2008.
  4. ^"'Private Dancer' - Tina Turner ".Discogs.com.1984.Retrieved24 February2017.
  5. ^"Mel Collins".IMDb.Retrieved15 January2011.
  6. ^"Why DSL?".DSL* Dire Straits Legacy.5 December 2019.Retrieved17 May2022.
  7. ^"The Band".DSL* Dire Straits Legacy.15 March 2019.Retrieved17 May2022.
  8. ^Legacy - 3 Chord Trick,December 2017,retrieved17 May2022
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