To John: Thank you for your life and passion for this music and culture.
DSC would not exist with John. John embodied and shared a profound commitment to the importance of Detroit’s music and heritage. He shared that knowledge and led by example.
John was a person of inclusivity, accuracy and honesty. He wanted the facts straight and didn’t like rumors. In a world where folks don’t know where Techno is from, he wanted to give credit where credit is due. He worked hard to recognize those who had not yet been, particularly through his advocacy work sharing Spirit of Detroit Awards as a part of the Detroit Entertainment Commission.
Music was a medium for John to share his higher gifts. He knew that music made people happy and brought them together. This sense of family and community through music was of the highest order. He never gave into the drama and worked hard to keep the peace. He looked you in the eye and acknowledged you in a warm and accepting way. His gratitude was palpable and vibrant. He mentored, taught and guided so many of us.
Over the years, John partnered with DSC across programs, DJ’d our events and was a staple of our tour program, where he always found time to share Underground Resistance’s Exhibit 3000 with Detroiters and visitors from around the world. He was always available to share his thoughts, insights and vision for this work and the culture.
For example in 2016, in written in a piece for Time Magazine, DSC’s founder interviewed John:
“In 2011, in the midst of the economic crisis, he produced his first 12” record. The gospel tinged housetechno hybrid “Yeah” went directly against the grain of doomsday pronouncements of Detroit’s collapse. …Whether DJing at a LGBT shelter or on a normal Sunday night at Motor City Wine, .. Collins exemplifies the confidence and pride that comes with years of practice and a rich sense of musical history.”
In 2016 he encouraged DSC to surface the history of Dance Detroit which culminated in a reunion performance at MOCAD. In 2017, he DJ’d our 5th birthday party and just last year, John was one of the first DJs to bless the restored Club Heaven Sound System. It was truly an honor and a privilege to hear his voice through the speakers across time and space.
DSC carries on our work with the spirit of John Collins at the forefront of our hearts and minds. In the past year, DSC has begun to work more closely with UR to help preserve the vitally important legacy and we look forward to sharing more about this partnership soon.
We continue our work of preserving this history that is ours for generations to come. Our deepest condolences go out to all those you touched. We send our heartfelt thoughts to the Collins Family and broader family that John cultivated through his life.
We will share more details from the family and arrangements as they become available.
Here are some words from John’s community we know resonate deeply:
“To truly honor John and his legacy, strive to be the kind of person he was—someone who valued your feelings, recognized your worth, and always encouraged you to be better, love more, and be there for those who needed you. Listen more than you speak. Do more than you say. Always see the good in people, no matter how they present themselves. Live knowing that no one is promised tomorrow, and always stay humble.” – Joy Santiago Clark
“John had a way of opening doors for others. He shared knowledge freely, introduced people who needed to meet each other, and encouraged younger generations to carry the culture forward. He understood that Detroit’s legacy wasn’t something to protect behind closed doors—it was something to nurture, document, and pass on.” – Adriel Thronton
“All I can say is, John was one of my best friends – extremely supportive – and a very thoughtful person that I will miss immensely.” – Donna Gardner
“Before I met the man, I met the music. John Collins was already a musical icon in the world of house and techno music when I officially met him in 1996. Over the last three decades I have sat alongside him watching him turn music sets into near religious experiences, continue to educate the masses about our musical heritage, and give selflessly with his time, talents and heart. His presence will truly be missed.” – Damon Percy
“If a record moved him, he gave it life in the clubs. He introduced me to extraordinary music and artists, and gave me the soundtrack to freedom. Detroit has lost a pioneer, but legends never leave. They live on in the music they loved, the people they inspired, and the culture they helped build. He was ours.” – Sabrina Underwood
“Gutted to hear of the death of John “Jammin” Collins, one of the Detroit electronic music community’s friendliest and most familiar faces (and not simply because of his role as tour guide at Submerge’s Exhibit 3000, the world’s first techno museum). For over four decades he was a constant presence on the decks at Motor City clubs, most famously during his days as the resident DJ at the legendary Detroit nightspot Cheeks, as well as gigs at the Warehouse, Club Heaven, and Menjo’s. He was also a longtime veteran of the airwaves, from 1980s stints at FM radio stations like WJLB (where he picked up his “Jammin” nickname from on-air personality “Captain” Kris McClendon) and WDRQ to the much-missed “Live From Detroit: John Collins presents The Soul of Detroit” that streamed online via Red Bull Radio.
He was a player behind the scenes as well: he worked with Joyce Santiago at the Moshi Company, the very first techno booking agency, which later evolved into Premier Entertainment. He founded the Detroit Regional Music Conference in 1994, a homegrown version of New York’s New Music Seminar and Miami’s Winter Music Conference, and oversaw it during its five-year existence. In the early 2000s he joined the administrative staff at Submerge as a booking agent and manager, where he was a key member of the organization until his passing. He also served as vice chair of the Detroit Entertainment Commission and in recent years was recognized for his accomplishments with a proclamation by the City of Detroit.
In addition to mentoring young artists and acting as a consultant to several community groups, he became one of UR’s most popular DJ ambassadors, bringing his expansive knowledge of dance music and Detroit history to represent the city around the world. His departure leaves a vast hole in the soul of Detroit, though his lessons will be enduring and his memory will be treasured by those who knew and loved him.” – Mike Rubin