Allen Collins
| Allen Collins | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Larkin Allen Collins, Jr. |
| Born |
July 19, 1952 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | January 23, 1990 (aged 37) Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | Southern rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1964–1986 |
| Associated acts | Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Rossington-Collins Band, The Allen Collins Band |
| Notable instruments | |
|
Gibson Firebird Gibson Explorer |
|
Larkin Allen Collins Jr. (July 19, 1952 – January 23, 1990) was one of the founding members and guitarists of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, and co-wrote many of the band's songs with late frontman Ronnie Van Zant. He was born in Jacksonville, Florida.
Collins started playing guitar at 12 years old, with a few lessons from his stepmother, Leila Collins, a country and western guitarist, teaching him a few notes, and receiving his first guitar and amplifier from his father after a falling-out between Allen and his father, Larkin. Collins also attended Nathan B. Forrest High School. In 1970, Allen married Kathy Johns. All of his band mates were in his wedding party, but Kathy worried that the band's long haired appearance would disturb her parents. To solve this problem it required all the band members to keep their rock and roll image under wigs at the wedding ceremony. The wedding reception was one of the first public performances of "Freebird" complete with the trademark extended guitar jam at the end. Allen's family grew with the birth of his daughter Amie, followed quickly by Allison.
Allen Collins joined Skynyrd in Jacksonville, Florida just two weeks after Ronnie Van Zant and Gary Rossington, along with Bob Burns and Larry Junstrom. So came the birth of Lynyrd Skynyrd in the summer of 1964. Allen Collins and lead singer Ronnie Van Zant co-wrote many of the biggest Skynyrd hits, including "Free Bird", "Gimme Three Steps", and "That Smell". The band received national success beginning in 1973 while opening for The Who on their Quadrophenia tour. On October 20, 1977, the Skynyrd plane crashed into a forest in Mississippi killing three band members, including Van Zant. Collins was seriously injured in the crash, suffering two broken vertebrae in his neck and severe damage to his right arm. While amputation was recommended, Collins' father refused and Allen eventually recovered.
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