Lyn Collins born 12 June 1941

Gloria Lavern Collins (June 12, 1948 – March 13, 2005), better known as Lyn Collins, was an American soul singer nicknamed the "Female Preacher." She was discovered in the early '70s along with her relatives Bootsy and Catfish Collins by James Brown and was best known for the influential 1972 funk single, "Think (About It)". Yet, despite her talent and success, her name has barely registered on the country's musical conscious.

Lyn Collins was born in Lexington*, Texas, where she grew up and

began singing in her teens. She began her recording career at age 14. She played with Charles Pike & the Scholars and waxed a tune called "Unlucky in Love."  She married a man who served both as her manager and as the local promoter for the James Brown Revue. Collins sent Brown a demo tape and he responded by essentially putting her on standby in 1970. On Marva Whitney’s leaving the Revue, former vocalist Vicki Anderson elected to rejoin, however, so Brown instead invited Collins to come to Georgia for a recording session in early 1971, which produced the single "Wheel of Life." By the end of that year, Anderson was ready to leave again, and Collins officially joined the James Brown Revue.

Being high up in James Brown’s revue meant you got to release records, and Collins grabbed the chance with both hands. Her recordings are the most characterful of any singer James Brown produced during that era of ball-busting funk, yet Lyn had plenty of competition. She accrued nicknames, awarded by Brown: she was Mama Feelgood and, more often, The Female Preacher, an apt epithet because she had an arresting presence on record and on stage. Like a great religious figure delivering a sermon in church, you just had to listen. Collins came over as sassy and sexy, but also powerful, elegant and composed.

                               

In 1972, Brown's People Records label released Collins' self-penned single "Think (About It)"; produced by Brown, it became her first and biggest hit, made her the most commercially successful female singer in Brown's camp. The record made No.66 on the Billboard pop charts and was Top 10 in the R&B listings, 
where she became something of a regular, with nine further records charting. It was later sampled for the main vocal hook in the party rap classic "It Takes Two" by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock. Collins' first full-length album, also titled Think (About It), was released later in the year. Collins continued to record singles for Brown through 1973, also fulfilling her heavy touring commitments as a member of the Revue. Her biggest pop hit, ʻWhat My Baby Needs Now Is A Little More Lovin’’, was a duet with the self-styled Soul Brother No.1.

Collins was a strong, proud and powerful woman. But she needed to be. When you were on Brown’s revue, being produced by him, singing songs he wrote, you never quite escaped his shadow. Her second album, Check It Out if You Don't Know Me by Now, was released in 1975. When Collins eventually left Brown in the mid-70s, she cut no more albums and comparatively few singles.  She eventually became a backup session vocalist for the likes of Rod Stewart and Dionne Warwick. She also appeared on the soundtracks of the film Dr. Detroit and the TV series Fame. Around the late '80s/early '90s, Collins attempted a comeback as a dance-club diva, recording the house single "Shout" for Belgium's ARS label, and a self-penned track called "Break Your Heart" for an Italian label.

In 1993, Collins' profile was given a boost by female dancehall reggae singer Patra, who invited Collins to perform on her hit remake of "Think (About It)"; partly due to the resulting interest, her two official albums were reissued in England and Holland. In addition, Collins' work has appeared on Polydor compilations like James Brown's Funky People and James Brown's Original Funky Divas, as well as the bootleg singles comp Female Preacher.

She continued to tour and perform most notably at the European Jazz/Funk Festival (in both 1998 and 1999) and the Montreux Jazz Festival. In February 2005, Collins embarked on her first solo tour. For three weeks, she performed in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. 

Not long after returning from the tour Collins passed away on the 13th of March 2005 as a result of complications from a seizure she had suffered the previous Thursday 10th of March. As was always the case during her years with James Brown, a fellow female former member of James Brown’s revue was on hand to support her through these final tough days: the wonderful, sweet-voiced vocalist Martha High who was there holding her hand when she died.

Reflecting on her time working with James Brown, she reportedly said "I would have preferred to sing more and scream less." Collins had dared to sing of a liberation she would not have enjoyed at the time, hoping to inspire her sisters in spirit. In retrospect, now we know how difficult it must have been to be something of a star, yet not free. These fine records which spoke of a freedom she did not enjoy revealed just how strong she really was.

(Edited from AllMusic & discovermusic.com) (*not Abilene as some reports state)