Jimmy Collier stands out in a crowd with his trademark cowboy hat. But it's the sound of the tall, sturdy troubadour's music that has magnetized listeners across the land. Today with the technological ease of CD recording and internet communication, Collier can bring his music to fans without leaving his ranch in rural Mariposa. That wasn't always the case.
For many years Collier went on the road to favor audiences across America and Canada with his smile, his irrepressible sense of humor, and his music. In his heyday, he opened for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., appearing on Sesame Street and played Carnegie Hall.
Born in Fort Smith, Ark., Collier was raised by his grandparents, both of whom loved music. He remembers his grandmother playing the piano on Sundays with all of his relatives gathered around and singing their hearts out. His grandfather even created his own musical instruments and played nearly anything. "I grew up with a lot of instruments around, and music."