Ramona Collins Quartet

Born in Toledo, Ohio, Ramona Collins was reared in Lansing, Michigan, by a jazz pianist/singer mother—the late Alice (Collins) Carter—who encouraged her daughter to sing at an early age to combat her shyness. Today, anyone fortunate enough to witness the veteran performer at work will detect not a whit of shyness. Sultry, seasoned, witty and cool are words that come to mind when experiencing this engaging performer whose command of the stage and vast repertoire have helped her establish a solid rapport with club, concert and festival audiences wherever she goes.

Ramona recorded early in her career, which has spanned over 30 years. She made her debut at 16, singing standards on a recording accompanied by her mother and a drummer. Her voice attracted attention from local musicians and before long, she was sitting in at jam sessions and clubs with her mother's musician friends. Her reputation as an exceptional song stylist and performer continues to attract musicians and songwriters of all ages, even today.

One such Toledo writer/producer recorded Ramona in 1970 in a studio located in the rear of his record store. The result, the sassy soul single "You've been Cheatin'", b/w "Now That You've Gone," is now a collector's item in the United Kingdom. Ramona was recently interviewed by Kev Roberts, a popular radio personality in the UK to find out what she's doing these days. He also wanted to let her know she has many fans in the UK who still enjoy dancing to that song she recorded so many years ago. In fact she has been invited to attend the Classic Soul Festival which will be held April 26 - May 3, 2006 in Hilton, New Jersey. This event is a celebration of lesser known heroes and heroines like Cuba Gooding, Barbara Mason, The Ambers, Sandra Philips, The Escorts, The Persuaders and many others. What a kick to meet and party with folks who are some of Ramona's favorite old-school artists. The Europeans love these singers and their music, and Ramona is one of them in addition to being a stellar jazz vocalist.

Ramona views her performing career as part entertainment, part educational. To that end, she has taken aspiring young performers under her wing, supporting and encouraging them and teaching them things that will help them grow as entertainers. . "There are a number of young people who have talent and respect for jazz ," she says. "I'm thrilled they view me as a mentor...it's inspiring."

Ramona has had the opportunity to perform with some of the country's greatest jazz musicians and vocalists, many of them from Detroit. National artists she has performed with include pianists, Bobby Few, Larry Fuller, Khalid Moss, Johnny O’Neil, Tad Weed, drummers Greg Bandy and Wynard Harper, trumpeters Marcus Belgrave and Sean Jones, organists Jack McDuff and Joe DeFrancesco and vocalists Allan Harris, Harvey Thompson, & Allyson Williams. On the local level she has worked regularly with pianists Claude Black, Eric Dickey and Mark Kieswetter for years.

After seeing her at the Ford Detroit International Jazz Festival, Christopher A. Hovan, photographer and jazz writer said, "...with her robust approach and sparkling personality, Ramona Collins is a regional artist worthy of wider recognition." And she is.