Guitarist Phelps 'Catfish' Collins dead at 66

Posted August 10, 2010 11:00 pm

CINCINNATI -- R&B and funk guitarist Phelps "Catfish" Collins has died at 66 at his Cincinnati home.

The older brother of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician William "Bootsy" Collins played with James Brown's J.B.'s, Parliament/Funkadelic and his brother's Rubber Band.

Phelps Collins died Aug. 6 of cancer.

Bootsy Collins' wife, Patti Collins, described Phelps Collins as a "father figure" to her husband.

The brothers played with James Brown and backed him up on classics such as "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine." They later joined Parliament-Funkadelic and played in that group with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame keyboardist Bernie Worrell.

Phelps Collins also performed on the soundtrack to the 2007 Judd Apatow comedy "Superbad" with his brother and Worrell.

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