[1] Collins started his musical career singing falsetto backup vocals for various doo-wop groups in the Los Angeles area in the late 1950s and early 1960s,[1] including Little Julian Herrera and the Tigers.
In 1964, Collins, drummer Jimmy Carl Black, bassist Roy Estrada, saxophonist Dave Coronado, and guitarist Ray Hunt formed The Soul Giants.
[1] Ray was the lead vocalist on most songs for their early albums, including Freak Out!, Absolutely Free, Cruising with Ruben & the Jets and Uncle Meat.
In 1968 Ray quit The Mothers of Invention because of tension in the group, and was replaced by Lowell George, but continued to contribute to other Zappa projects through the mid-1970s.
OWE OUR EXISTENCE to Mark Cheka for his initial encouragement and sterling example (and to a whole bunch of other people who are going to be bugged because their names aren't listed in detail, with addresses and pertinent facts about what they like about the government & their other fetishes).
Roy is an asthmatic Pachuco, good-natured excellent bass player, involved in the R&B scene here for about ten years.