Ray Collins (November 19, 1936 – December 24, 2012) was an American musician. Early life Collins grew up in Pomona, California singing in his school choir, the son of a local police officer. He quit high school to get married. Career Collins started his musical career singing falsetto backup vocals for various doo-wop groups in the Los Angeles area in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including Little Julian Herrera and the Tigers. In 1963 Collins co-wrote Memories of El Monte with Frank Zappa. In 1964, Collins, drummer Jimmy Carl Black, bassist Roy Estrada, saxophonist Dave Coronado, and guitarist Ray Hunt formed The Soul Giants. Hunt was eventually replaced by Zappa, and the group evolved into the Mothers of Invention. Ray was the lead vocalist on most songs for their early albums, including Freak Out!, Absolutely Free, Cruising with Ruben & the Jets and Uncle Meat. He additionally provided harmonica on Freak Out!. In 1968 Ray quit The Mothers of Invention and was replaced by Lowell George, but continued to contribute to other Zappa projects through the mid-1970s. Personal life Collins had a daughter who died in a plane crash at a young age. Death Collins resided in Claremont, California ending up living in a van in someone's back yard in Claremont, until he died a pauper on December 24, 2012, aged 76. References External links American harmonica players American rock singers The Mothers of Invention members 1936 births 2012 deaths People from Pomona, California American male singers Songwriters from California Tambourine players