Eleanor Collins Parents, Husband Richard Collins: Children and Family Explored Latest, Eleanor Collins was a Canadian jazz singer, television host, and civic leader. She was known as Canada’s First Lady of Jazz. Eleanor Collins was born as Elnora Ruth Proctor on November 21, 1919, in Edmonton, Alberta. Her parents, Richard Ellis Proctor and Estella Mae Cowan Proctor, were part of a wave of Black settlers who migrated from Oklahoma to Canada in the early 20th century.
Eleanor Collins’s family background is of African American heritage. Her parents, Richard Ellis Proctor and Estella Mae Cowan Proctor, were integral parts of this movement after joining a community of African-American homesteaders who ventured from Oklahoma, Ohio, and Kansas to Canada. Eleanor Collins was married to her husband Richard Collins in 1942, and they maintained their marriage for seven decades. In 1948, they relocated to Burnaby accompanied by her four children: Rick, Judith, Barry, and Tom Collins. Being the sole black family in the area, their arrival prompted neighbors to initiate an unsuccessful petition to have them removed.
Eleanor Collins’ Early Life and Parents
Eleanor Collins was born as Elnora Ruth Proctor on November 21, 1919, in Edmonton, Alberta. Her parents, Richard Ellis Proctor and Estella Mae Cowan Proctor, were part of a wave of Black settlers who migrated from Oklahoma to Canada in the early 20th century.
Richard Ellis Proctor was a farmer, while Estella Mae Cowan Proctor was a schoolteacher. They were both active members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which played a significant role in the Black community in the early 20th century.
Growing up, Eleanor Collins was exposed to music through her parents and the church. She began singing in the church choir at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. Her parents supported her passion for music and encouraged her to pursue a career in it.
Eleanor Collins’ early life was marked by the challenges faced by Black Canadians during that time, including discrimination and segregation. Despite these obstacles, she persevered and went on to become a trailblazer in the Canadian music industry.
Eleanor Collins’ Marriage to Richard Collins
Richard Collins’ Biography
Richard Collins was a saxophonist and a band leader who shared Eleanor Collins’ love for music. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1917 and grew up in the city’s black community. Richard started playing saxophone at a young age and became a professional musician in the 1930s. He played with some of the top jazz bands in North America, including those led by Lionel Hampton and Duke Ellington. Richard also served in the Canadian Army during World War II.
Eleanor and Richard’s Marriage
Eleanor Collins met Richard Collins at a dance hall in Vancouver in the early 1940s. They fell in love and got married in 1942. Richard was very supportive of Eleanor’s career aspirations and encouraged her to pursue her talents. Together, they formed a musical family in Burnaby, British Columbia, where they raised their four children: Rick, Judith, Barry, and Tom Collins.
Eleanor and Richard’s marriage lasted for seven decades until Richard’s death in 2011. They were known for their love and devotion to each other, as well as their dedication to their family and their music. Richard’s support and encouragement were instrumental in Eleanor’s success as a singer and actor, and he remained her biggest fan throughout their life together.
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