SunOct 26

Bootsy Collins

Bootsy Collins, born on October 26, 1951, is an American funk singer and bass guitarist. He is very widely known as an innovator in funk music. He was first recognized while performing with James Brown in 1970. He moved on to various collaborations and was part of Parliament-Funkadelic for a decade. He is known for being featured with artists across several genres. His trademark is “space bass,” and he has several alter egos to which he does justice. According to “Rolling Stone” magazine, he is fourth on the list of the 50 greatest bassists of all time. Here’s wishing him a happy birthday on his special day!

Fast Facts

Full Name:

William Earl Collins

Nickname:

Bootsy

Birth date:

October 26, 1951

Age:

73

Zodiac Sign:

Scorpio

Height:

6' 2"

Relationship Status:

Married

Net Worth:

$3 million

William's Social Media:

Background

William Earl Collins was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was raised alongside his brother, Phelps “Catfish” Collins, by their mother. When he turned 17, he formed a funk band called The Pacemakers with his elder brother and some of their friends. The Pacemakers were hired as James Brown’s backing band in 1970. They worked with him for almost a year and were known as The J.B.’s. During their time with James Brown, The Pacemakers worked on several funk songs, including ‘Super Bad,’ ‘Bewildered,’ and ‘The Grunt.’

Collins returned to Cincinnati where he formed another band called House Guests with his brother and five other people. He joined Funkadelic a short while after and played bass on several of the band’s tracks. He formed Bootsy’s Rubber Band in 1976, and their 1978 album “Bootsy? Player of the Year” topped the R&B album chart and produced the top R&B single ‘Godzilla.’ He released his first solo album titled “Ultra Wave” in 1980 and then proceeded to perform several collaborations with artists such as Jerry Harrison, Malcolm McLaren, and Deee-Lite.

He married his wife Patti in 1996, and the couple runs the Bootsy Collins Foundation, founded to educate children in the field of music. He had a long-term addiction to L.C.D. in the seventies, but his wife and other factors helped cure him.

Career timeline

1968
He Forms His First Band

The band is named the Pacesetters and is made up of Collins, his older brother, Phelps, Frankie Waddy, and Philippe Wynne.

1980
He Releases His Debut Solo Album

Titled “Ultra Wave” and featuring seven tracks, the album is fairly successful.

1984
He Goes on a Hiatus

About two years after the release of his album “The One Giveth, the Count Taketh Away,” Collins goes on a nearly five-year break — he returns to making music in 1988.

2008
He Establishes Bootsy’s

He launches Bootsy’s, a club/restaurant featuring live musical acts, a museum dedicated to his career, and Spanish and American cuisine.

2019
He Retires From Live Performances

Stating that his decision was due to health reasons, Collins announces that he would no longer play bass in concerts.

Why We Love Bootsy Collins

  1. He believes in his music

    In an interview with “The Guardian,” he said, “Funk just brings people together, from the ground up. It doesn’t have nothing to do with color. It has nothing to do with status. It just brings you to ‘the one’, and the one thing that we all have in common is that we all just want to live.”

  2. He was a dedicated player

    During his time with James Brown, he learned to work hard and keep working. He carried that attitude into his music and put a lot of energy into it.

  3. He cares about the next generation

    Fully invested in passing on the legacy of funk music, he established Funk University and the Bootsy Collins Foundation. Both organizations were established to train young people in the field of music.

5 Surprising Facts

  1. He found a father in James Brown

    He was fatherless for most of his childhood, but he developed a bond with Brown, who treated him like a son.

  2. He was nicknamed by his mother

    His mother called him Bootsy because she thought he “looked like a Bootsy.”

  3. He was a university professor

    He co-launched Funk University with Cory Danziger and served as a curator and lead professor for the online bass guitar school.

  4. He made his first bass guitar

    His family didn’t have much to spend, so Collins took the only guitar available when he was a child and put bass strings on it.

  5. He once proved James Brown right

    After the older musician repeatedly accused Collins of being high on drugs, he decided to prove him right one night, and it backfired — he was let go.

Bootsy Collins FAQs

Is Bootsy Collins Snoop Dogg’s uncle?

According to Collins, Snoop Dogg is his “original nephew.”

Did Bootsy Collins pass away?

No, he didn’t. His elder brother Phelps “Catfish” Collins died in 2010.

What kind of bass does Bootsy Collins play?

He plays the Fender Precision Bass.

Bootsy Collins’s birthday dates

Year Date Day
2025 October 26 Sunday
2026 October 26 Monday
2027 October 26 Tuesday
2028 October 26 Thursday
2029 October 26 Friday