(July 26, 2026) The sad news was posted on social media by noted R&B singer Dennis Collins about his brother, legendary Detroit DJ and electronic music pioneer John “Jammin” Collins:
Our hearts are broken tonight as we share the sad news that our dear brother, John Jammin Collins has passed on and taken up his heavenly residency. We love you forever.
John E. Collins initially worked as a cancer researcher after returning to his native Detroit in the late 1970s following his studies at Wilberforce University. DJing began as a way to supplement his income, but it soon became his calling. He built his reputation at such influential Detroit clubs as Cheeks, the Warehouse, the Parabox and Times Square, developing an eclectic style that moved comfortably among soul, funk, disco, house and techno.
Collins later brought that musical range to Detroit radio, hosting mix programs on WJLB and WDRQ and helping introduce listeners to the city’s developing underground sound. Away from the turntables, he led the pioneering Moshi booking agency, founded the Detroit Regional Music Conference and became an important member of the Underground Resistance and Submerge organizations.
As a producer, Collins began releasing his own recordings in the 2000s, including the gospel-influenced “All We Need,” while continuing to perform internationally as an ambassador for Detroit house and techno. He has also served as a guide at Exhibit 3000, Detroit’s techno museum, preserving the history of the music and placing it within the larger story of the city that created it.
Through his radio show The Soul of Detroit, his mentoring of younger artists and his community work, John “Jammin” Collins remained a steady advocate for Detroit music, past and present. He will be greatly missed.
