Ray Collins was born on November 19, 1936. He started his musical career singing falsetto backup vocals for various 'doo-wop' groups in the Los Angeles area, including Little Julian Herrera and the Tigers. In the early sixties, Collins, drummer Jimmy Carl Black and bassist Roy Estrada joined with Frank Zappa to form the Soul Giants, which, under Zappa's leadership, turned into the Mothers of Invention. Ray was the lead vocalist on the the Mothers early albums, including Freak Out!, Absolutely Free and Cruising with Ruben & the Jets. He contributed to other Zappa projects through the mid-70s. November 19 is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Jimmy Carl Black at Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, October 3, 1968. ... Roy Estrada (born April 17, 1943 in Santa Ana, California) is an American musician. ... Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American composer, guitarist, singer, film director, and satirist. ... Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 - December 4, 1993) was an American rock/jazz fusion musician, composer, and satirist. ... Freak Out! is the debut album of Frank Zappa and his group, the Mothers of Invention. ... Absolutely Free (1967) is the second album by The Mothers Of Invention, led by Frank Zappa. ... Cruising With Ruben & the Jets is an album by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, released in 1968 (see 1968 in music). ...

Ray Collins page at Zappa Wiki Jawaka