One of the reasons I started my blog was to learn about topics and people that I knew nothing about. I’m embarrassed to say that Eleanor Collins-Canada’s First Lady of Jazz is a person I know very little about. Today that all changes!
Let’s meet Eleanor Collins, a Canadian jazz singer, television host and civic leader.
Eleanor Collins-Canada’s First Lady of Jazz
FIRST UP…Eleanor at the time of this posting was still very much alive at the wonderful age of 103!
SECONDLY…HER VOICE IS STUNNING!! Often compared to Lena Horne and Ella Fitzgerald.
Take a moment to watch this video to fully understand what I mean….
Elnora Ruth Procter was born on November 21, 1919 in Edmonton, Alberta. Her parents were of Black and Creole Indian heritage and were originally from the state of Oklahoma. They were drawn to the area by a 1906 advertisement to purchase a quarter section (160 acres) of land for $10, among more than 10,000 Black homesteaders who did so (Source).
Important to note...during this time the Canadian government promoted the concept of untouched land despite the fact that the area was inhabited by several Indigenous nations (Source).
At the age of 15, Collins won a singing contest which lead her to sing on radio station CFRN.
In 1938, Eleanor relocated to Vancouver and began performing with the Swing Low Quartette, a gospel group that consisted of Collins, her sister, Ruby Sneed, along with Edna Panky and Zandy Price. They performed on CBC Radio from 1940 through 1942.
In 1945, she began singing with Ray Norris’ jazz quintet on Serenade in Rhythm, also on CBC Radio; a program that ran for several years and was broadcast to troops overseas.
Eleanor Performing in a Club in Vancouver January 1st, 1948. Source: Wikipedia
In 1954 she began on the CBC Vancouver TV program Bamboula: A Day in the West Indies, marking the first interracial cast in Canada, and the first variety series produced in Vancouver.
Source: opentextbc.ca
Eleanor Collins sings “Ill Wind” in the CBUT (CBC Vancouver) 1954 production of “Bamboula”. So dreamy!
“The Eleanor Show” premieres in 1955 becoming the first nationally broadcast television series with a Black host.
In 1955, CBC decided to showcase Collins’ style, elegance and sophistication in her own musical variety series; “The Eleanor Show” which ran as a summer series in 1955 and was later reprised as just “Eleanor” in 1964.
Eleanor became the first Canadian music performer to have a show named for her and the first music artist of colour in North America to host her own national television series — groundbreaking features in Canadian history. Her Show pre-dated the 1956 Nat King Cole Show in the United States (Source).
“The studio and the TV medium were all new,” the trailblazing Collins would later recall, “but together we managed to create some amazing watershed moments in Canadian television history… I realize now that I experienced a golden age in television.”
(Source)
Source: CBC Radio
Source: Scout
Eleanor also 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 U.S.
Why did she not move? Collins chose to remain in Canada not only to give stability to her family but also because the country was a rich source of musicians. Furthermore, she was acutely aware of her parents’ decision to leave turn-of-the-century oppression in the United States for a new life in Canada and she wanted to honour their vision.
Source: Scout Magazine
In addition to singing on TV and radio variety shows, Eleanor performed in clubs and in concert with Chris Gage, Lance Harrison, Doug Parker and Dave Robbins.
Source: Canadian Stamp News
Eleanor recorded with Ray Norris in 1951 and appeared on CBC broadcast albums by Gage and Robbins in the 1960s. The only recordings she made were for the CBC (Source).
By the late 1980’s Collins was considered a living legend and many individuals producing heritage projects began to again search her out. One of those projects was a documentary that she and the Collins Family were featured in, entitled Hymn to Freedom: On This Rock and Telefilm Canada (Source).
Then at the age of 94, Eleanor surprised and delighted a packed house concert audience by singing live at Marcus Mosely’s 3rd and 4th Black History Month Annual Stayed On Freedom Concerts, at St. Andrews Wesley United Church, Vancouver (Source).
Eleanor receives the Order of Canada!
She was awarded the Order of Canada on her 95th birthday: November 21, 2014.
The order is the highest degree of merit, an outstanding level of talent and service, or an exceptional contribution to Canada and humanity (Source).
“I’m a firm believer,” she once said, “that wherever you are, whatever corner you are in, you can be doing everyone some good. Everyone.”
Eleanor Collins
Personal Life
Eleanor Collins was married to Richard (Dick) Collins for 70 years (Married in 1942). They had four children (Seen below).
In 1948 they moved to Burnaby, B.C. where they were the first Black family in the neighbourhood. Almost immediately, the white community started a petition to prevent them from living there, but Collins and her the family moved in despite the racism they faced.
Collins began to volunteer at her children’s school and taught music there too, all in an effort to put a human face to the stereotypes her family faced from their community (Source).
Source: CBC Radio
Eleanor Collins is now a Canadian stamp!
Eleanor posing with her postage stamp, January 21st, 2022.
Source: BC Black History Awareness Society
Here is a stunning portrait of Eleanor at the age of 95. YOOZA! What a beauty!
Source: CBC Radio
Videos to not miss:
Canada Post-Tribute Video and Stamp Reveal (THIS IS A SUPER VIDEO!)
1988 CBC Vancouver TV series THEN & NOW with co-host Lynne McNamara talking with Eleanor Collins, about her life and career (Video Link).
Thank you for taking the time to learn all about this outstanding Canadian woman! Eleanor is truly special.
Question time: Have you ever heard of Eleanor? Seen her shows maybe? Share any thoughts you have in the comments section below.
Thanks for dropping by!
FURTHER READING:
- Collection of vintage blogs posts on ‘Women’s History’
- “Women of the Big Band Era Everyone Should Know“
Liz
