Johnny Collins was one of the signature voices on the maritime music scene since his beginnings in London jazz and folk clubs in 1956. He was a sought-after performer at many folk and maritime festivals. He and his friend, Jim Mageean, were cornerstone performers at the Liereliet festival in Workum for decades, their album “Coming of Age” documenting this accomplishment.
He died on 6 July 2009 while on tour in Gdańsk, Poland, aged 71.