Ray Collins

Ray Collins (Born: 19th Novemeber 1936) )started his musical career singing high falsetto backing vocals for various 'pachuco' and doo-wop styled groups in Southern California. He recorded with Little Julian Herrera and the Tigers in 1959. In the early sixties he saw FZ playing guitar with a band at a bar in Pomona. Collins, at his request, sang a few songs with the band. He later told FZ about an idea he had for a song called How's Your Bird?. FZ went off and wrote the song then contacted Collins to arrange to record the song at Pal Studio.

Collins and Zappa would perform in bars as a mock folk due called Sin City Boys and Loeb & Leopold.

Ray joined The Soul Giants, a band that included Jimmy Carl Black and Roy Estrada.  Collins brought in Frank when their guitar player left. The Soul Giants eventually became The Mothers. Ray provided vocal and minor percussion for Freak Out!, Absolutely Free, Cruising With Ruben & The Jets, Uncle Meat, Burnt Weeny Sandwich, Weasels Ripped My Flesh, Apostrophe ('), You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 5, The Lost Episodes, Mystery Disc, and Joe's Corsage; also on the Beat The Boots series disk 'Tis The Season To Be Jelly (BTB).

• Little Julian Herrera And The Tigers: I Remember Linda / True Fine Mama

(1957, 7", usa, starla records) - feat. Ray Collins on high falsetto backing