Albert Collins
October 1, 1932 – November 24, 1993
Albert Collins was an electric blues guitarist so great, that he was awarded not one, but three nicknames – the Iceman, the Master of the Telecaster, and the Razor Blade. Born in a small Texas town mid-way between Dallas and Houston, Collins took an early shine to the music he heard around him. When he was 7, he and his family moved to Houston, and it was there that he eventually began making a name for himself by playing a style that was equal parts Texas, Mississippi, and Chicago blues. In 1952, Collins formed his first band and within two years, he was headlining clubs in and around Houston. He began making records in 1958, and went on to record for such respected labels as Imperial, Alligator, and Point Blank. Collins was also an in-demand side man and be heard playing on records by the likes of David Bowie, B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, John Mayall, and Gary Moore. In August of 1993, Albert Collins learned he was suffering from lung and liver cancer. He died of the disease three months later, on November 24, 1993. He was 61.
What You Should Own
