Lawrence Collins (October 4, 1944 – January 5, 2024) was an American guitarist, best known for being a part of The Collins Kids duo with his sister Lorrie, being mentored by Joe Maphis, and for his fast and energetic playing.^[1]

When The Collins Kids initially split up in 1961, Collins continued to perform as a solo artist, and most notably co-wrote the 1972 hit "Delta Dawn".

Collins was a member of The Collins Kids, with his sister Lorrie (1942-2018^[2]). Their hits in the 1950s included "Hop, Skip and Jump", "Beetle Bug Bop", and "Hoy Hoy".^[3] The Collins Kids became regular performers on Town Hall Party in 1954,^[3][4] appeared on the Grand Ole Opry,^[5] and on the syndicated for television version of the show, Tex Ritter's Ranch Party in the late 1950s.^[4][5]

Collins and his mentor, country star Joe Maphis, recorded an album together for Columbia Records, titled Fire on the Strings, released in 1957.^[6] The Collins siblings continued to perform together until 1961 when they separated.^[7][8] The duo reunited for a rockabilly revival concert in England in 1993^[3] and performed together until Lorrie's death in 2018.^[2]

When he was not a part of The Collins Kids, Collins continued to perform as a solo artist.^[9][7] Collins went on to write and produce hits for many well known country music stars, and is most notable for co-writing the 1972 hit "Delta Dawn" with Alex Harvey^[10] and the 1981 country hit "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma" with Sandy Pinkard.^[8]

Collins was known for playing a double-neck Mosrite guitar like his mentor, Joe Maphis.^[10]

Lawrence Collins was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on October 4, 1944,^[10] and died of natural causes in Santa Clarita, California, on January 5, 2024, at the age of 79.^[11]