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Gloria Laverne Collins was born in Lexington, Texas but grew-up in Abilene. She made her first recording at the age of 14 with a song titled “Unlucky In Love.” Her marriage to a local promoter of James Brown’s shows made it easy for her to send Brown a demo in 1970. Brown eventually invited her to record with him in 1971 after Marva Whitney left his revue. The session produced the single “Wheel Of Life.” In 1972 Brown gave Collins her biggest break when his Peoples Records released her self-penned “Think (About It.)” The song became her signature tune and one of hip-hop’s richest resources. Another solo album, Check It Out If You Don’t Know Me By Now came out in 1975. “Rock Me Again & Again & Again & Again & Again & Again” was the high-profile single that became part of the funk canon. She worked as a backing vocalist on the “Dr. Detroit” soundtrack and the TV show Fame. In the late ’80’s she recorded the house tune “Shout.” Dancehall artist Patra remade “Think (About It)” in 1993 and invited Collins to be on the song. The singer who was given the name “Female Preacher” by Brown continued to tour making such dates as the Montreux Jazz Festival up until her passing in 2005. Paris-based Hi&Fly Records released a DJ Pari produced live CD of her European recordings called Mama Feelgood in 2006.
