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Crash Collins, second from left, with ZZ Top
When people speak with nostalgia for a bygone era of rock radio they’re often referring to a time when the airwaves were populated by personalities — DJs like “Crash” Collins, a legendary figure in Houston radio who died of complications from prostate cancer Sunday. He was 68.
With his laid-back and twangy delivery, which ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons called “his instantly recognizable voice,” Collins was a key voice at KLOL through the 1970s and into the ‘80s, beloved for his free-form playlists.
In a career spanning four decades, he worked at six radio stations as well as numerous charity events.
Dennis Maurice Collins was born Dec. 7, 1942, in Nashville, Tenn., and his family moved to Houston when he was in his late teens. Collins graduated from Lamar High School and attended the University of Houston, ultimately choosing rock ‘n’ roll over higher learning.
He picked up the bass guitar and played with acts like B.J. Thomas and Johnny and Edgar Winter. Collins can be heard on The Good Love on Johnny Winter’s Second Winter album.
But radio was Collins’ calling, starting with an afternoon show he hosted at KUHF. He received his nickname at KLOL 101-FM from program director Jim Pruett. Collins had dabbled in drag racing in the early ‘60s, and Pruett thought Crash had a better ring to it than Dennis.
Collins earned a devoted following at KLOL working in the free-form format in which a DJ is given complete freedom to play music of any sort. The few free-form survivors today exist mostly on college campuses or the Internet.
KLOL announced its arrival in 1970 when Collins’ friend Pat Fant ushered in the station by playing, fittingly, the Who’s I’m Free. The free format suited Collins, a rocker at heart, whose affinity for music went deeper than the top of the pop charts. A post on a Facebook page for a benefit concert in his honor speaks to the degree of freedom Collins had. It referenced a Bruce Springsteen song, The Fever, that Collins played on the air in the mid-’70s. The song was serviced to radio stations but wasn’t available commercially. KLOL was the only station in Houston to play the song, and Collins played the role of DJ as tastemaker.
KLOL ruled rock radio in Houston in the ‘70s, and Collins was a major contributor to its personality.
“He maintained the highest of standards in the long line of top Houston radio personalities,” Gibbons said. “A great sound from a great guy.”
Several years ago Sarah Fitzgerald, owner of the area club Fitzgerald’s, summarized what many thought of KLOL’s peak years: “It was the last of the good old days of radio.” 101-FM today plays Spanish-language pop.
With consolidation and format changes, radio was and remains a volatile business. In addition to three stints at KLOL, Collins worked at KUHF, KILT, KULF, KNUZ and KZFX.
He was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame last year.
Collins’ tag line — “Crash in your dash” — had a personal quality that is in short supply in radio today. The variety of music and commentary on satellite and Internet radio these days is vast, but even satellite radio offers genre specialization that lacks the sense of surprise and discovery of free form.
Collins’ role was curatorial but personal. His slogan implied a certain shared sensibility with his listeners. He wasn’t riding shotgun necessarily. But he was in the car.
Collins is survived by his wife, Roxana Marx Collins; his children, Lacy Collins Price and Travis Lee Collins; and his mother, Ann Grummer. Friends have organized Bash for Crash, a benefit event for his family, which will be held Nov. 13 at the Concert Pub Galleria.
Houstons losses have been Heaven's gain.....first Mark Stevens and now Crash!!!
So many memories! You were the best, Crash Collins. We kids adored you back in the 70s and you helped to form our taste in music, which still holds to this day. Thank you for being our voice. RIP.
Crash, it was good hearing your voice through some of my tough teen years. You'll be missed.
Free-form radio is alive in Houston today on KPFT 90.1 FM.
God Bless Crash in the Dash for years of listening pleasure. KPFT is no KLOL and will never be similar.
It's true that KPFT will never be KLOL, given its multicultural mission statement, but there are those of us at 90.1 who carry on the spirit and spark of free-form, be it Reach Out in the Darkness, Songlines, Roark's Friday edition of Wide Open Spaces, or Sound Awake (featuring yours truly). There are several songs I play that I first (and mostly) heard on 101 in the 80s...Billy Rankin's "Baby Come Back" and The Jon Butcher Axis' "Don't Say Goodnight" always comes to mind. I'll never be Crash, but I still have a duty to help my fellow music geeks keep it between the ditches.
RIP Crash!! You & Col. St James & a few other of KLOL's DJ's (Dayne Steele, Linda Silk) were some of my best friends back in the early to mid 80's. Damn I miss REAL radio. Thank God the Col. is still on! Think I am gonna hafta spin The Spirit Of Radio!!
Up on your way
hit the open road
there is magic at your fingers
Not these days tho not these days. And now we are one less.
Our condolences to the family and close friends. ZZ Top will surely do a tribute to him, and Johnny Winter, and enough players to make a day-long Houston show to honor the memory of Crash.
For those who were on this side of the dash, Crash was the one you could count on to lift your spirits, make you think, introduce you to some of the best dang music you'd never heard before, tell you what was happening on the music scene, and was always Your Friend.
He was an inspiration to all the young DJs and most of the existing ones. We didn't know it was called "freeform radio" at the time, we just knew it was good. He showed us it was never too early in the morning to play "All Along The Watchtower" or "Just Got Paid".
The airchecks of his shows are archived somewhere and we hope they will be online soon if they aren't already.
Crash, thanks for all the good times and for keeping us somewhat sane. You gave us a lot. 'preciate it, pal. We'll see you Up There someday.
RIP sir, I was a fan and enjoyed the music way back when. God bless you in your rest. Tom
Bummer
What few people knew was that during that time, KLOL was considered one of the top radio stations NATIONWIDE! Houston was still nowhere near the city it is now both population wise as well as culturally - yet KLOL was known as a station that could get the same advertising dollars as major stations in Los Angeles and New York City. It had a good run, and Crash was a major contributer to that run. R I P Crash. You were one of the few that made Houston was it was in that day, and helped Houston become what it is today.
Listened to Crash for many years, always enjoyable and professional. A true loss for those who listened to Rock and Roll radio. Rest in Peace.
Sad to hear the news of Crash's passing. As a teenager in the 70's, I spent many evenings listening to Crash spin the best that Rock had to offer in those days. He had free rein to play whatever he chose, and he never failed to keep his listeners tuned into KLOL in anticipation of what he would play, and also what he would say.
Crash was one of a kind, and that was what intruiged me. There was nobody on the airwaves that could match his on air personna. Houston has lost a legend, and one that can never be replaced.
God speed Crash....and thanks for the great memories.
What a memory-walk- back to the 70's.
...My deepest condolences.....
Lates 70's King of the Airwaves, all hail Crash...
Rest in Peace mate.
He was a great DJ because he knew music. He was a steady rhythm bassist that could walk the neck. You couldn't ask for more from a bass player.
Dennis you'll be missed maybe more for all the other things you were - husband, dad, fan, and friend. Love ya man.
I hope to make the jam Nov. 13 at the Concert Pub Galleria. My prayers are with his family and loved ones.
Wow! A Houston Radio institution has left us to a better place.
We will all miss you Crash. I remember seeing you at the re-united Monkees Concert at Astroworld in 1987. You partied with us on the radio and at the shows.
Radio was your life and a big part of the Houston Rock Community. There was Larry Kane, Hudson and Harrigan (later Stephens and Pruitt), Skipper Lee, Wash Allen, and Crash "in your dash." Those were the personalities I remember and Crash connected me to the world of Hard Rock.
Rest in peace Crash.
Wow, Crash will definitely be missed...
I love that picture - I was hanging with Crash and ZZ Top that very night at the top floor of the Stouffer Hotel in November 1975... It was also the night I first met Billy Gibbons. The Summit had just opened and ZZ had sold out 2 nights in a row - it was the big hometown celebration for the boys after the 2nd gig.... What a night.....!
What a man....Crash WAS Rock and Roll Houston.....!!!!
I listened to Crash for many years....RIP Crash.
i came into klol 101 in the late 80s so i missed him but do remember stevens and pruitt and moby. god send though it was a good station. rip collins i would of loved you to and so close to zz top. i love it.
Happy trails Crash
THE voice, from back when FM radio used to be GOOD.
Crash will be missed. He would come down to KUFO FM in Galveston when I was on the air. Always great seeing him.
Crash was great. People today have no idea how great radio was back in the 60's and 70's. KLOL was incredible, and will never be duplicated. Rest in peace, Crash. I wish you could be in my dash forever.
What sad news. I moved here in the late 60's and as a teenager, I found a real home with Crash and the music he played. He was the best of the best in a time when the DJ's could weave magic on the airwaves. It was always good to see him on the PBS fundraisers too. Thanks for the many hours of great music, Crash. I feel like I've lost an old friend. You made the world a better place and I still love the music that I found through you. My deepest sympathy goes to your family and friends.
i believe that he received his name because he fell asleep on the air once.
aitchtown legend; rest in peace.
"Crash" Collins was to ROck Radio as Andy Rooney was to writing for TV and 60 Minutes. True recognized voice in your dash spokesman. He was missed when KLOL went a different direction very much. Long Live Rock 'n Roll, Long Live Crash memories! Thanks, Crash & Happy Trails to the Holy Land.
Great times. My roomie knew Crash and we partied a few times. Never forget the time he let a record skip for like 18 minutes.
I always enjoyed listening to good ol' "Crash in your dash" - man, that's going waaaaaaaaaaaay back!
RIP Crash, and thanks for all the good times bro.
Have missed crash for many, many years. Miss him more now.
RIP, Crash.
Rock on Crash. May you rest in peace. You and K101 were a hudge part of my growing up in the 70's.
Crash was the best... watching him roll a brand new toyota truck at the Moto-X races when all he was suppose to do was drive around the track... not on it... was typical of what to expect from him. RIP my friend.
KLOL gave away a Harley Cafe Racer back in the 1980's. Crash was riding it around town and showit at events. One day on the way to work he had a blowout and wrecked on 290. Don't guess it was hurt too much. That was Crash
Mark Stevens, Auntie A, Crash.......all names from my youth when radio was magic...People today don't realize how truly good radio was then......RIP Crash.....
KLOL was the greatest back in the early '70s. I will never forget the night Crash let a record skip for something like 30 minutes on the air... RIP, dude.
He gave it the good fight and on to a better gig. You have been a true friend for a long long time. You are loved by many and You will be missed! God bless Roxanne and the kids...gonna missya bro!
Those were the great days of radio. It truly was about great music. I'll miss KLOL all my adult life! It still makes me mad when I hear espanol on 101.
RIP Crash. You'll be missed.
"Crash B. Crash" I miss those days of Crash in your Dash, and old time KLOL.
RIP, Crash! You definitely will be missed.
Happy trails to you!
HE WAS A GOOD HOMBRE AND AMIGO!
Loved CRASH ~ He was a true entertainer! Great memories back in the day...KLOL and KILT Ruled & Houston Rocked! RIP Crash & sincere condolences to your family.
Absolutely the end of an era. They broke the mold with you Crash. Did you really fall asleep on your shift? as the story I heard went, and let the record go on & on? Now it's on to the great record-spinning booth in the sky. Rock on Crash.
Every Saturday night it just seemed like he was there with us in the car. You just knew he knew what we were up, what we were doing (it was the 70's man). His voice sounded so cool. RIP my friend.
What a great station. jackie Mcauley, Jim Hilty, Ed Beauchamp, stardates, and CRASH. Happy trails, buddy! You are the reason I was in radio for 35 years!
I'll never forget the first time I cranked up the new Delco Quad with my Jensen 3x9's connected and Crash came to life. I still have a recorded tape of one of his Sunday shows I recorded and sent to my brother in Saudi. I'll be listening in again tonight. You will be missed Crash, yoe were Houston Radio! RIP
In the dark days of Disco Crash taught me everything I needed to know about Rock N Roll. Rest In Piece Crash!
Just heard of your passing. I will never forget our daze together on the air at KLOL with the rest of the late 60's- early 70's gang.
So many great memories with KLOL K101, Crash was it for me. I would even go to The Old Plantation to hear him spin records there. RIP Crash! we love you!
I remember the time in the late 70s when Crash was on and a record skipped in place for about 17 minutes. I wonder what Crash was up to then! Those were certainly the good old days,
Dennis:
I will never forget our days at KLOZL. You were a good friend, never to be foegotten.
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