(March 11, 2024) We are sad to report the passing of one of the unsung, great drummers of R&B, Everett Collins, known as the driver of the percolating beats of the Isley Brothers in the 70s and the smoother jams of the group Surface a decade later. But for a couple generations of students in Virginia, he was just the coolest music teacher around.
A touching post from Collins’ close friend Kevin Dalton-Jones reflected how many felt:
The Amityville, New York native received a degree from Long Island University in music education, but instead of going straight to teaching exclusively, he juggled music instruction with life on the road as the drummer for the legendary Isley Brothers. Eventually, the two lives wouldn’t mix, and Collins left teaching to perform full time, both on tour and in the studio, where he played an important role in several Isley Brothers albums.
By the mid-80s, Collins was also working with other acts, including Rebbie Jackson and the upcoming R&B trio Surface, for whom he and also wrote. The group landed a big hit with the Collins composition “You Are My Everything.”
However, in the 00s, Collins returned to his love of teaching, becoming a middle school music instructor and later Director of Bands at Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools.
Everett Collins’ name won’t be familiar to a lot of music fans, but those killer beats he provided for two decades will live on.
By Chris Rizik
