Iconic Houston radio DJ "Crash" Collins died Sunday after an extended battle with prostate cancer. He was 68.
A Nashville native, Dennis Maurice Collins relocated with his family to Houston in the early 1960s, eventually graduating from Lamar High School. While attending the University of Houston, he hosted an afternoon music show on KUHF AM and played bass guitar for a range of popular local rock acts, including Beaumont's own Johnny and Edgar Winter as well as "Hooked on a Feeling" performer B.J. Thomas.
When Collins joined the staff of Houston's beloved free-form rock station KLOL in 1971, he earned him the nickname Crash as co-workers heard about his brief stint as a drag car race driver. Throughout the '70s, Collins ruled the rock airwaves with carefully-selected tracks, a laid-back voice and his infamous "Crash in Your Dash" tagline.
Hundreds of Texas radio staffers learned of the DJ's death at the 2011 Texas Radio Hall of Fame induction awards, held this Sunday in northwest Houston. Collins himself was inducted last year for his four decades of radio work as well as his constant charity work throughout the state. He earned the title "Volunteer of the Year" in 1988 for Texas Children's Hospital.
Throughout the '70s, Collins ruled the rock airwaves with carefully-selected tracks, a laid-back voice and his infamous "Crash in Your Dash" tagline.
The constantly changing tides of radio ownership eventually led Collins to the IT world, where he ran the Katy-based software company DAISI.
Collins is survived by his wife of 26 years, Roxana Marx Collins, his children, Lacy Collins Price and Travis Lee Collins, and his mother Ann Grummer.
On Sunday at 12:30, a Bash for Crash benefit for the Collins family will be held at The Concert Pub (5636 Richmond), followed by a memorial service.
Legendary rockers Styx and Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon, will team up to co-headline the “Brotherhood of Rock” tour in 2025, which will include a stop at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands on Friday, June 6.
The large, 40-city tour will take place over three months, starting in Greenville, South Carolina on May 28, and wrapping up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 24.
In addition to Houston, the tour will go to Austin on June 4 and Dallas on August 1. It will include special guest Don Felder, former lead guitarist for the Eagles, at all dates.
Fans can expect some of the greatest rock anthems of all time, including “Renegade,” “Keep On Loving You,” “Come Sail Away,” “Can't Fight This Feeling,” and “Hotel California.”
Styx and Cronin (as part of REO Speedwagon) first toured together in 2000 and in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, coming together to form the Rock to the Rescue 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. This will mark their sixth time joining forces on the road.
2022 was the 50th anniversary of Styx's self-titled debut album, but they have yet to slow down. The band released their 17th album, Crash of the Crown, in 2021. Of course, not everyone is a fan, as this classic clip from The Simpsons illustrates.
REO Speedwagon's recording days appear to be done, with their last album coming out in 2009, but the main group of five has been together since 1989. On this tour, Cronin will be joined by REO's lead guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt.
General tickets for the tour will go on sale starting on Friday, December 13 at 10 am at LiveNation.com.
Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets in the U.S. beginning on December 9 at 10 am through the Citi Entertainment program.
Styx and Kevin Cronin will be offering VIP packages via their own exclusive pre-sales beginning on Tuesday, December 10 at 10 am, as well as at LiveNation.com.
