Bernard Collins

As one-third of the quintessential Rasta harmony trio, The Abyssinians, Bernard Collins has a unique place in the history of Jamaican music. In Jamaica, Collins is still known as The Abyssinian, and he still performs with George Henry, who sang on the original recording of "Declaration of Rights" at Studio One. Collins continues to run The Abyssinians’ Clinch label from his Kingston home, issuing the group’s catalog of 7" singles and albums in the vinyl format.
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Collins recently saw the cd release of his first solo album, Last Days (TABOU.1). The album collects tracks recorded over a span of twelve years, including the last recordings of the original Abyssinians line-up (Collins, Donald Manning, and Linford Manning).
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Collins recalls the recording project in New York that formed the basis of the Last Days album. "[Andy Bassford] used to work with Lloyd Parks [in We The People] here. He is American, but a very good musician. As I say, while I was in America, 1986-1987, I get a vibes to start doing something there. That’s how that album started getting together. And then Andy Bassford laid about ten tracks, and I came down here and laid four more tracks, to make fourteen tracks.