1. Elnora bella Collins was a Canadian jazz singer, television host, and civic leader.
13 Facts About Eleanor Collins
1. 2.
Eleanor Collins was known as Canada's First Lady of Jazz.
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Eleanor Collins's parents were of Black and Creole heritage and were originally from the State of Oklahoma.
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Eleanor Collins then sang with Joe Macelli's dance band, and the Three Es, and on CFRN.
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Eleanor Collins was invited by CBC to star in The Eleanor Show, that ran from June 19 to September 11,1955, making her the first woman, the first person of colour, and the first jazz singer to headline a show on national TV, predating the Nat King Cole Show.
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Eleanor Collins starred in her second television program, Eleanor, that aired from February 1 to March 2,1964, with the Chris Gage Trio providing musical backup.
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Eleanor Collins appeared on many radio and television programs through the 1960s and 70s on both CBC and CTV, remaining in Canada despite offers to move to the US.
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Eleanor Collins continued to perform through the 1970s, was a music director at the local Unity Church, and performed for Canada Day celebrations in 1975, before 80,000 spectators on Parliament Hill.
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Eleanor Collins later sang at the Vancouver nightclub Richard's on Richards with saxophonist Fraser MacPherson and took part in a tribute show for longtime CBC Vancouver's Hot Jazz host Bob Smith, and in a January 2016 memorial service for Leon Bibb.
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Eleanor Collins performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson and Phil Nimmons.
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Eleanor Collins married Richard Collins in 1942 and remained married for 70 years.
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Eleanor Collins, in turn, volunteered at the school and began teaching music to Girl Guides.
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Eleanor Collins was awarded the Order of Canada on her 95th birthday: November 21,2014, and reached her 100th birthday in 2019.