Albert Collins

Guitarist, singer, and songwriter Albert Collins' hard-rocking Texas shuffle blues and his gregarious showmanship made him one of the most popular contemporary bluesmen. Six of his albums were nominated for Grammy awards. The son of sharecroppers from rural Texas, Collins was taught electric guitar by his cousin; his unusual minor-key tuning was a distinctive aspect of his sound. In 1968, Bob Hite of Canned Heat discovered Collins playing in a Houston lounge and brought him to the attention of Imperial Records, which awarded him a contract. The Canned Heat connection attracted young white blues fans, and Collins frequently played West Coast rock venues.