William Robert (Mojo) Collins
Songwriter

"For several years I have hoped to find the time to complete writing two works that are dear to my heart. The fellowship will give me time and funds to complete writing and recording these albums. One is a collection of original folk and blues songs That Ole Carolina Tradition; the other work is a classical folk rendition of the history of the Lost Colony, From Devon to Dare. The fellowship will provide me the time and money I need to reach my full potential as an artist. Achieving this will result in more income, but more importantly, will take me to much higher level of writing and performance."

Mr. Collins, whose performance history spans five decades, began his musical career at five-years-old, and he sang his way through high school and the U.S. Air Force. His opening and headline appearances at the famed Fillmore West in San Francisco led to an album with Fillmore Records, his first of seven albums. He has works filed in the University of Mississippi Blues Archives, N.C. Department of Archives and History, UNC Music Archives and the History Center in Manteo. Other credits include appearances with the Sacramento Symphony, the New Orleans Jazz and Blues Heritage Festival and many public schools in North Carolina. He still performs extensively throughout North Carolina. Mojo Collins lives in Wilmington, NC.

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Award Recipients for 1999-2000