The Tragic Teen Queens: Betty and Rosie Collins

The R&B duo of Betty Collins (1939 - 1971) and Rosie Collins (1941 - 1968), came from Los Angeles, California. Their entry into the recording business and signing to RPM Records in 1955 was facilitated by their older brother, Aaron Collins of the Jacks/Cadets, who recorded for the same company.

The youthful amateurishness of the singing on their one hit, 'Eddie My Love' (number 2 R&B and number 14 pop), probably helped to make the record a hit in 1956. It was one of the first records specifically to direct its appeal to teenagers. It was the era of the cover record, and both the Fontane Sisters and the Chordettes also took the song high on the pop charts, but it is the Teen Queens version that endures.

The duo could not follow up with a hit, and the second single "So All Alone"/"Baby Mine" flopped miserably. Despite recording some excellent material over the years including "Two Loves And Two Lives" and "Dear Tommy" they had no further chart action. Moves to RCA Records in 1958, Antler in 1960 and Crown Records did not help, and the duo broke up in 1961. The final tragic ending was when Rosie took her own life in 1968, and Betty died in 1971 after falling victim to drugs.

Eddie My Love: www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6xMcRJ7CFU

Sources: Antler Records, NY; The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin