Al "Jazzbo" Collins and the Purple Grotto

[ghost of miles]

Putting together a Night Lights program and came across this site...

Jazzbo

What a character! I've heard of him, caught his voice on some records, but hadn't ever bothered to read up on the whole "Purple Grotto" trip (or the later "Collins on a Cloud" scenario he used out in San Fran...)

[Jim R]

http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=20987

As I said in that thread, I was a fan. I've forgotten if I became aware of him via radio or tv. He had a show called "Jazzbeaux's Open House" on a local UHF tv channel back in the 70's, and it was always pretty entertaining. The opening of the show featured Al in a video of him driving up to the station's studio at the top of a hill in his little sportscar, with Basie's "Blues In Hoss Flat" playing behind it. He would always bring on some local musicians, some of whom went on to become well-known, and some that were never heard from again. He also took phone calls on the air, and you never knew what to expect.

I also used to listen to him on AM (KSFO) and later on FM (KCSM). The guy had such a unique personalilty and way of speaking and delivering funny lines... he could make the most mundane topic highly entertaining, and would even dwell on something mundane just to get the most out of it. He was the kind of person that savored every moment in life, and always remained positive, optimistic, upbeat. A warm human being. I still miss the guy.

[Jim R]

More:

http://www.broadcastlegends.com/collins.html

[Randy Twizzle]

1955 Jazzbo Article and a A 1953 Profile of Jazzbo

[Christiern]

His "Blue Grotto" was in Pittsburgh in 1973, when I spent an hour there on a book tour. As far as the interview goes, I remember very little, except that I had to sit on a wood barrel.