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RAY COLLINS
Indie / Folk

"

"Saoirse go Deo"

"Hoka He"

"


Belfast, Ireland; & Big Apple,
United States

Profile Views:  15016




Last Login:  7/6/2008
View My: Pics | Videos

   Contacting RAY COLLINS

 MySpace URL: 
  http://www.myspace.com/raycollinsmusic  

   RAY COLLINS: General Info
Member Since4/22/2006
Band Websiteraycollinsmusic.com
Band MembersRAY COLLINS: Vocals; Guitars;Mandolin;Bouzouki; Bodhran; Percussion; Keyboards.
Sounds LikeRay Collins
Record LabelColin Glen Music
Type of LabelIndie




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   About RAY COLLINS





RAY COLLINS


Bits O’ Bio

Belfast: the early years.

Singer-songwriter/guitarist/actor: Ray hails from Belfast City, BOI (British Occupied Ireland). His musical roots are embedded in the rich ballad tradition of his native land. His original songs twig those roots with other branches of music, most notably "folk" and "rock", producing his distinctive driving, rhythmic style. His first ’major’ public singing engagements were on the picket-lines and rallies of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association in the 1960s. (Collins was a founder member of the Belfast branch of NICRA.) Later he would perform to a ’captive’ audience while on remand in Crumlin Road prison in Belfast.

Many years later he is still singing and writing songs which relate his experiences of life and death in Belfast and beyond!! Collins also spent much of his riotous turbulent youth playing the illegal late night shebeens, smoke-filled rowdy bars, and jam-packed boisterous clubs of Belfast, oft’ times without the aid of a PA system. In the 60s and70s he spent various chunks of time in London, England, playing the bars and clubs there, with occasional sorties to Glasgow, Scotland, and frequent trips to Europe:
In the early 1980’s Collins toured Europe eventually settling in Paris where he played a resident gig at the GUINNESS TAVERN.

Ray has performed with a variety of artists including Luke Kelly (The Dubliners); The Clancy Brothers; Eamonn McGirr; The WolfeTones; Pete Seeger; Richie Havens; Sean O’Connor & The Look-a-Likes; Morning Star; Black ’47; and Shenachai.

The Hunger Strikes

During the Hunger Strikes of 1980 and 1981 Collins visited the prisoners, played numerous benefit gigs, and embarked on speaking tours in Britain and Europe to highlight the struggle for Political Status by Irish political prisoners in the H Blocks of Long Kesh and Armagh women’s prison.

North American Tour

In 1984 Collins embarked on a 3-month extensive tour of the United States and Canada organized by the Irish Republican Socialist Committee/North America. As well as playing bars,coffee houses,folk clubs, colleges, concert halls, and festivals to raise funds for the Political Prisoners in Ireland; Collins also embarked on a simultaneous lecture and speaking tour of colleges and press clubs, being interviewed by numerous journalists for both local and national newspapers, magazines, and journals, as well as appearing on television and radio and at Press Clubs in an effort to counter the prevailing pro-British propaganda filling the airwaves and columns of the mainstream North American media.

Saoirse go Deo

During this tour Ray recorded and produced an album of original Irish Republican Socialist songs entitled "Saoirse go Deo"/"Let the Fight Go On" to raise funds for the families of Irish Republican Socialist political prisoners. A companion booklet. of the same name, was also published containing songs, poems, and articles written by Irish political prisoners. The project helped to raise funds for the prisoners and their families..

American Indian Movement

During this extensive tour Collins also played several benefit concerts for the American Indian Movement from which he developed a strong friendship and close cultural bond with singer-songwriter/actor Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman", (Dances with Wolves, Son of the Morning Star) of the Sisseton-Wahapteh-Dakota (Sioux) Nation.

New York City/Irish Arts Center

It was during this American tour that Collins began a long-term love affair with New York City, which has become his second home. While in the Big Apple Collins worked at the famed Irish Arts Center in Hell’s Kitchen, forming a friendship with Irish filmmaker and Director Jim Sheridan, (My Left Foot, In the Name of the Father, In America).

’Under Which Flag’/"In Belfast Town"

In 1986 Collins played the role of James Connolly in Connolly’s play’Under Which Flag,’directed by Jim Sheridan, with music and songs arranged by Collins. The play was performed in New York City before an audience which included James Connolly’s grand-nephew and Gerald O’Reilly, a co-founder of the Transit Workers Union (TWU).

In the same year "In Belfast Town", a one-man-show written, produced, and performed by Collins, had it’s American premiere at the Irish Arts Center. The show is a social history of Belfast in song, story, verse, and prose, with especial reference to Collins’s family neighbourhood; the York Street/Sailortown District around the Belfast Docks.

Jim Sheridan praised Collins’s performance as:......" a masterful portrayal of the enduring spirit and strength of the people of Bellfast."

"As I Roved Back"...

"As I Roved Back to York Street", a song originally written by Collins as the finale to "In Belfast Town" eventually became the title track of his 1996 album, "As I Roved Back"

.

Collaborating with his close friend, Dublin Rock Star Sean O’Connor, they co-produced this album of original songs depicting Collins’s adventures on the road and relating his experiences of life in his native Belfast. Joining Collins and O’Connor on the album are New Yorker Dave Sandler on drums; Black ’47 member Geoff Blythe on saxophones; and Dublin chanteuse Susan McKeown.

"Slainte agus Saoirse go Deo"

Ray is a member of the Songwriters Guild of America and the American Society of Composers , Authors, and Publishers.

   RAY COLLINS's Friend Space (Top 12)
RAY COLLINS has 1469 friends.
 Irish Citizens Army 


 Caoimhain 


 redflag32 


 Starry 


 RADIO REBEL GAEL 


 SEAMUS ROBINSON 


 www.rid.ie 


 A Drop of the Irish 


 Free Leonard Peltier 


 Indigenous and Irish Alliance 


 Indigenous in Music Promotions 


 American Indian Movement 





RAY COLLINS's Friends Comments
Displaying 50 of 184 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Andrea **irishpunk's girl**





Jul 4 2008 5:44 PM

This comment was sent by your friend via the Causes app.

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Come join my cause:
Stop Using live Dogs For Shark Bait!
You will be able to recruit friends, raise money, and add a
profile badge to show your support!
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"nurPeter" und seine Projekte





Jun 28 2008 3:14 AM

Hello ray, here the first version of "Let The Fight Go On"
Sláinte...Peter
...... ..
Brighid [RIP Kevin]





Jun 24 2008 9:55 PM

Miss you too :)
"nurPeter" und seine Projekte





Jun 22 2008 10:30 AM

Hello Ray, here a song for you, i am shure you know verry well. Hope you like this version a bit. It was the first time i did this song. think it will be better in the future.
Gerald McAuley
Fiddler's Walk





Jun 18 2008 11:46 PM

Hi Ray,

Thanks for the request. I first came to Belfast in the Summer of 1984 and was driving around the Antrim coast the day Sean Downes died. I later moved to St. James Road and was married in St. Michael's to a girl from Ladybrook. Now we live in South Armagh and making movies.

All the best

George
Giuseppe Cardaropoli





Jun 17 2008 6:26 AM

Grazie dell’amicizia.
Sul mio sito web www. giuseppecardaropoli. it è possibile ascoltare
e scaricare gratuitamente spartiti, basi, liscio, latino-americano,
marce per banda e canzoni.
A presto

Thanks for friendship.
On my website www. giuseppecardaropoli. it you can download and listen for free : orchestra, bases, smooth and latin American , banda marches and songs.
See you soon

Gracias por la amistad.
En mi sitio web www. giuseppecardaropoli. it puedes descargar y escuchar de forma gratuita: orquesta, bases, sin tropiezos y de América Latina, banda marchas y canciones.
Hasta pronto

Merci d'amitié.
Sur mon site, vous pouvez écouter www. giuseppecardaropoli. it
et télécharger gratuitement les évaluations, les bases, lisse, de l'Amérique latine,
banda pour des marches et des chansons.
À bientôt
Aine MacAodha Poetry





Jun 16 2008 3:36 PM

Great songs and tunes Ray, keep up the good work,
Slainte,
Aine
Naomia





Jun 15 2008 9:54 AM

~Bean alainn gleoite~





Jun 7 2008 7:43 PM

a funny billboard

Hope you're having a great weekend, Ray.

Slainte Chugat
Judy
Folkland Radio





Jun 14 2008 12:27 AM



Thanks for the add! Greetings.
Finbarr Clancy Fans





Jun 13 2008 7:35 PM

Judy, Judy, Judy





Jun 6 2008 9:29 AM

Hahaha...oops.
Forgot about that!
RADIO REBEL GAEL





Jun 5 2008 7:15 AM

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a chara Ray,

Thanks for the brilliant tribute to Sean Downes, powerful, soulful, and Fenian, in a way that only you can deliver !

..Radio Rebel Gael..
Lory





Jun 4 2008 11:37 AM

Belfast - Sean Downes Memorial
Tara





Jun 3 2008 1:21 PM

My cousin Sean is the best guitar player in the world!!! I'm his biggest fan, apart from my mum that is, ha-ha!
Nice to meet you
Tara x
~Bean alainn gleoite~





Jun 3 2008 5:17 AM

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THANKS FOR ADDING ME.

~~JUDY~~
QUÉBEC





Jun 3 2008 4:04 AM

...two great new songs!;-)
MERCI!!
world of free access





Jun 3 2008 3:14 AM

Great songs,i would love to hear you sing the ballad of James Larkin.
Workers of all lands unite.
Coalition of Irish Republican Women





May 29 2008 9:01 PM

Ray I thank you for returning once again to the new page! It is always my hope that the site can last without being censored for at least a year~ so far that hasn't happened since this is the third reincarnation in a 13 months. If only those who don't agree with us could accept the fact that we have a right to exist. To that end~ we really appreciate your continuous support.
Kate
Andrea **irishpunk's girl**





May 28 2008 5:28 PM

Hey RAY COLLINS, I just bought you as my PET!
Click here to find out how much I think you're WORTH!




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"nurPeter" und seine Projekte





May 21 2008 5:42 AM

Hello ray, thanks for the friendship and everything ...Peter
Judy, Judy, Judy





May 16 2008 2:14 PM

xoxoxo
A Drop of the Irish





May 11 2008 7:46 PM

Thanks for the chat today Ray.
See you in "Gold" county!
Cynthia Bennett





May 11 2008 11:54 AM

The Ballad of Gerald McAuley is brilliant! You're very talented, Ray.
Siochain agus saoirse,
Cynthia
RADIO REBEL GAEL





May 7 2008 4:12 PM

Moving, melancholic yet powerful tune Ray, "The Ballad of Gerald McAuley" really hits you in the heart ...
A Drop of the Irish





May 7 2008 3:13 PM

RAY COLLINS AND CYNTHIA BENNETT ON "A DROP OF THE IRISH" THIS SUNDAY!


We're back to the usual chaos this week on the show....with a good mix of all things Irish. I'll also be chatting to the wonderful CYNTHIA BENNETT on the show and will be playing various selections from her songbook.

I'll also be talking to the brilliant RAY COLLINS about his new song "the ballad of Gerald McAuley" and whatever else tickles our fancy. So tune in won't cha?! Sunday @ 12pm EST or 5pm Irish time on www. WTBQ. com
A Drop of the Irish





May 6 2008 12:01 PM

Ray- "The Ballad of Gerald McAuley" is a great tune,love the intro,the content is of course enraging,big time.I'll be playing this on the show this week. Keep up the good work man. The invite stands as soon as you're up to it!
LISTEN TO "A DROP OF THE IRISH"
Every sunday online on www. WTBQ. com @ 12pm Eastern standard time(USA) or 5pm in Ireland.
Shelly Ryan





May 4 2008 7:49 PM

Ray,
Thank you for the request and for sharing your AMAZING music! I look forward to experiencing your stories told through song.

My storytelling is through another universal language...laughter. There's a lot of comedy here and at my ReverbNation site.

Love & laughs,
Shelly

Shelly%20RyanQuantcast
Elly





May 3 2008 12:46 AM


and your friendship in myspace
TAL
RADIO REBEL GAEL





May 1 2008 7:19 PM

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..Radio Rebel Gael....

Happy May Day ! Up The Workers !
Lory





Apr 29 2008 9:41 AM

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xxx
Lory
Conquistador





Apr 22 2008 8:52 PM

Ray A Chara

I hope all is well with you. How goes the music? I hope to catch up sometime soon.

Justin Romine
Kathy





Apr 18 2008 9:42 AM

Happy Friday!
Judy & Jack





Apr 14 2008 6:46 PM

Sexy Myspace Comments
Myspace Comments
MIYAGI - DEBUT ALBUM OUT NOW





Apr 14 2008 4:20 AM

Hi - have a look / listen to Miyagi. we play a gig near you soon. come along...

If you can't make one of our tour dates, just click to my left there: free music for you to savour + an album if you're feeling cash rich
Lory





Apr 12 2008 1:14 AM

hi Ray! I love "Silence of the sound" great song from a great man!thanks for sharing.
xxx
Lory
Fra Donaghy





Apr 1 2008 10:27 AM

Hi Ray, thanks for the add and for checking out the article in the paper. Best wishes to yourself.

Fra :)
The Brazen Heads





Mar 31 2008 10:35 AM

Hi Ray, thanks for adding us.
Love your music!