Detroit dance music veteran John “Jammin” Collins passed away on July 26. Collins spent more than three decades working as a DJ, producer, mentor, radio host, and historian. He began his professional life in the 1970s, working as a cancer researcher after graduating from Wilberforce University with a biology degree. A DJing stint at the iconic club Cheeks in the 1980s launched his musical path, where he held a residency alongside Jeff Mills. Over the following four decades, Collins witnessed and shaped the birth of Detroit Techno and the city’s house music scene, which flourished in its gay nightlife spaces.
He later brought that signature sound to the local airwaves as a staple mix-show DJ on WJLB and WDRQ while touring internationally across Europe and Asia as a global ambassador for Detroit music. Over time, he became best known for his central role with Underground Resistance and Submerge Recordings, where he managed artists, ran booking, and co-founded Exhibit 3000—the world’s first techno museum. As vice chairperson of Detroit’s Entertainment Commission, he dedicated himself to ensuring foundational artists received the honors they deserved, eventually earning the Spirit of Detroit Award for his own cultural preservation work. Collins’ quiet, relentless dedication was essential to a city that generated massive global influence while far too often lacking formal acclaim.
