Cal Collins (May 5, 1933 – August 27, 2001) was an American jazz guitarist. Born in Medora, Indiana, United States, Collins first played the mandolin professionally as a bluegrass musician in the early 1950s. After service in the Army, he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and switched to jazz guitar after hearing swing guitarists Charlie Christian, Irving Ashby, and Oscar Moore. He played in Cincinnati for twenty years. His first recording was on the Airtown label, a 45RPM, #JB2006 that was released in 1968. One side features a Jazzed version of Duane Eddy's "40 Miles of Bad Road", the other side of the recording features a version of the Santo & Johnny hit, "Sleepwalk" combined into a medley with "Peg of My Heart". Benny Goodman hired him in 1976 at the age of 43. He spent three years with the Goodman orchestra and then three years making albums for Concord Jazz. As a leader and sideman, he worked with Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache, Rosemary Clooney, Ross Tompkins, Woody Herman, John Bunch, and Marshal Royal. In the early 1980s, Collins returned to Cincinnati and slowed down his career. He joined the Masters of the Steel String Guitar Tour in 1993 with Jerry Douglas and Doc Watson and recorded his last album in 1998. In 2001, he died of liver failure.

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With John Bunch With Rosemary Clooney With Concord Jazz All Stars With Concord Super Band With Benny Goodman With Woody Herman With Eiji Kitamura With Marshal Royal With Warren Vache With others