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Music is a great part of the life of Kevin Collins. Being raised in a musical family, music was an everyday event! His grandmother, Agnes (Tobin) Collins of Ship Cove, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, was the start of the musical link in the Collins' family. Kevin's father, Tony Collins, carried on the family tradition for his lifetime, and now Kevin continues to offer music - lovers his best! Kevin started singing at the tender age of six, and started publicly performing at age 13. Spending the majority of his childhood days at his grandmothers house, Kevin learned to have great respect for his grandmother and seniors. One of Kevin's releases entitled, "My Old Homestead" was lovingly dedicated to his grandmother! On a trip to Boston, with his grandmother, eight year old Kevin, performed on stage with Leroy Van Dyke and received a standing ovation. Kevin is very proud of the fact that his grandfather, Charles Collins, a resident of Bond's Path, Placentia was a mail-carrier for 29 years. Charles Collins delivered mail from Placentia to Patrick's Cove on the Cape Shore by horse and buggy for a distance of 15 miles year ‘round for 29 years. He later worked in the lumber woods for the remainder of his life until his death at age 55. He left behind a wife and 12 children. A story is often told of how a visitor once said to Mrs. Agnes Collins that she should put some of her children in an orphanage, if she was to survive, but her exact reply was, "if this ship sinks, I will go down with her", this quote has turned up in a well-known song which Kevin wrote entitled, "Long Gone Are The Days". Mrs. Agnes Collins played a very important part in the life of Kevin Collins. Tony Collins, his father, sang country music for 25 years. He died on July l, 1990 of a major heart-attack.. Being from a family of four brothers and one sister, all having great musical abilities. Kevin's mom, Margaret (Downey) Collins, Colinet, NF, though not noted for her musical abilities, provides many mouth-watering meals to give her crowd the energy to sing and play. Kevin married Roseanne (Pomeroy) Collins from Great Paradise, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland on March 17, 1984. Roseanne's family resettled to Placentia under the "resettlement program" in 1967. Not finding work in their new environment, many families returned to the places they left to once again earn their living from the Newfoundland fishery, Roseanne's mom, Patricia Browne, Pomeroy, and dad being one of those families. Unfortunately, on April 19. 1984 Roseanne's dad, Loyola Pomeroy, drowned while setting lobster pots. The
Ireland Connection Kevin's grandmother was Agnes Tobin from Ship Cove, Placentia Bay, her parents originating from Blackwater, Co. Wexford, Ireland. Kevin's great-grandfather Samuel Collins came from Waterford, Ireland. Kevin's wife, Roseanne's family originates from Kilkenny, Ireland. (Browne) In May 2003 Kevin made his first voyage to Ireland and he was not disappointed. Ireland and her people were everything that Kevin had hoped they would be. Kevin promoted his music and "Newfoundland" everywhere he went, and was promptly invited back to Ireland the following years to do a series of shows. In February 2004 Kevin once again traveled to Ireland, this time performing his music. Many radio stations in Ireland are now playing Kevin's music and a number of Irish artists have even recorded some of Kevin's songs. Kevin's country cd, "Jump In And Swim" has been named "Cd of the Month" (February 2005) in Country Music Roundup Magazine in Britain.
Kevin has released six Irish/Newfoundland CD's, four Country CD's, one Gospel CD and one Christmas CD. The Accomplishments
• Was
featured in a CBC music documentary while in Nashville, TN in 1992.
Kevin met such stars as: Vince Gill, Reba McIntyre, Ricky Skaggs, Alan
Jackson, Doug Stone, The Kentucky Headhunters, Marie Osmond, Billy Walker,
Jack Greene, Kitty Wells, Roy Acuff, Stonewall Jackson, Conway Twitty,
and many more. • In 1993, Kevin has the pleasure of being the "opening act" for Canada's number one female country artist, Michelle Wright. • In 1994, Kevin recorded his second country album entitled, "Follow The Wind" in Nashville, TN with grammy award winner Al Delorey. This album gained him a nomination as "Best Country Artist" at the East Coast Music Awards. • In 1996, Kevin once again traveled to Nashville, TN, where he completed his sixth CD. This new country CD was entitled, "Wildfire". Kevin had some of the best musicians and grammy award winners in Nashville help him out on this project. Brent Mason on guitar, Sonny Garrish on steel, Rob Hajacos on fiddle and Terry McMillan on percussion. These musicians have also backed such stars as: Alan Jackson, Sammy Kershaw, George Strait, Vince Gill and many other top entertainers. • Kevin toured Canada from Newfoundland to British Colombia from 1994 to 1998. • Kevin's music is now being played on radio stations throughout Europe. RECENT
EVENTS • An East Coast Music Award nomination as "Country Artist of the Year"2006 • Featured on CBC's - Land and Sea on January 30, 2006
• Kevin wins "Songwriter of the Year" at The Country and Irish Music Magazine Award Show in Kildare, Ireland in 2005, for his contribution to Irish music. • Kevin's country cd, "Jump In And Swim" has been named "Cd of the Month" (February 2005) in Country Music Roundup Magazine in Britain. • Kevin has been nominated for "Best Country Artist" at 2004 East Coast Music Awards. • Kevin released his first international CD entitled, "From An Island To An Island" in Ireland in August 2004. He performed in various places in Ireland in the spring of 2004. • Kevin
was presented "Best Country Artist" and "Best
Gospel Artist" awards at the recent the 2001 Music Industry Association
Awards. Kevin also performed at the gala event.
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