CMT News

Charlie Collins, longtime guitarist in Roy Acuff's Smoky Mountain Boys, died Thursday (Jan. 12) at age 78 at his Nashville-area home after suffering a stroke Sunday (Jan. 8). A multi-instrumentalist, he was also a noted fiddler and mandolinist who was a staple of the Grand Ole Opry for 45 years. He joined the Country Music Hall of Fame member's band in 1966 until Acuff's death in 1992. He continued working on the Opry with Brother Oswald, who played Dobro in Acuff's band. His last Opry appearance was on Jan. 7 as a member of the Opry Square Dance Band. Collins recorded with numerous acoustic-based musicians, including Mark O'Connor, Norman Blake, Sam Bush and Jim & Jesse.