Chandler Collins American singer and actress Date of Birth: 18.11.1926 Country: USA

Biography of Dorothy Collins

Dorothy Collins was an American singer and actress. She was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and began her singing career on a local radio station. At the age of 14, she met composer and musician Raymond Scott in Chicago, who became her mentor and helped her develop her vocal abilities. Collins quickly became a star under Scott's guidance and performed with his group on radio and concert tours.

In the late 1940s, Dorothy worked with the revived Raymond Scott Quintet, releasing records under the label of Scott's company, "Master." In 1949, Scott was hired to conduct the orchestra for the popular radio program "Lucky Strike's Your Hit Parade," and Collins led the group in his absence. She later appeared in the television version of "Your Hit Parade," becoming well-known nationwide for her singing talent. Collins also served as the official representative of the Lucky Strike cigarette company in advertising campaigns on radio and television.

Collins made appearances on various programs, including "The Steve Allen Show," "The Bell Telephone Hour," "The Hollywood Palace," and "Candid Camera." In 1955, her single "My Boy - Flap Top" reached the 16th position on the Billboard charts. However, her subsequent recordings did not achieve the same level of success. She also ventured into theater and played the role of Dorothy in a production of "The Wizard of Oz" by The Municipal Opera Association of St. Louis in the summer of 1957, alongside Margaret Hamilton.

In 1971, Collins made her Broadway debut in Stephen Sondheim's "Follies," portraying the character Sally Durant Plummer. Her rendition of the song "Losing My Mind" became one of the highlights of the show. She received a Tony Award nomination for "Best Actress in a Musical," but unfortunately, the award went to her fellow Canadian actress, Alexis Smith. The musical moved to Los Angeles in 1972, and Collins reprised her role as Sally.

Dorothy Collins was married twice in her life. In 1952, she married her longtime friend and mentor Raymond Scott. They were married for 13 years and had two daughters, Deborah and Elizabeth. After their divorce in 1965, Collins married actor and singer Ron Holgate in 1966. They had a daughter named Melissa before their marriage ended in divorce.

Dorothy Collins passed away on July 21, 1994, at the age of 67, in her home in Watervliet, New York. The cause of death was respiratory failure due to her long-standing asthma.