Tyler Collins (singer)

Biography

Collins was born in Harlem, New York and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Collins began taking lessons in dance and theatre, and performing with the children's theatre group, Willow Opera Workshop in Los Angeles, California.

Her professional music career began singing lead for an R&B group called The Boys Next Door. The group signed with Jermaine Jackson's label, Work Records, which later folded. Tyler eventually signed with RCA Records and released her debut album Girls Nite Out. She co-wrote the lead single "Whatcha Gonna Do" which peaked at #8 on the Billboard R&B chart. The 1990 follow-up single "Girls Nite Out" also topped out at #8 on the Billboard's R&B charts, as well as #6 on its Pop charts.

Collins appeared on singer Tevin Campbell's debut T.E.V.I.N. on the song "Lil' Brother". She also appeared in the music video for the single "Goodbye".

Collins' songwriting came to the forefront for her second album Tyler, which was a decidedly more pop-oriented effort than Girls Nite Out. The set featured the singles "It Doesn't Matter" (co-written by Siedah Garrett) and "Just Make Me The One." Tyler has also written songs for Celine Dion, Shanice, and Jeffrey Osborne.

She also took part in the group recording Freedom (Theme From Panther) in 1995 featuring scores of young female R&B artists including Aaliyah, En Vogue, TLC, and others. Also in 1995, Tyler Collins recorded Never Alone (Eeyore's Lullaby) for the Winnie the Pooh tribute album. Take My Hand: Songs from the Hundred Acre Wood; it reached #48 on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks.

Her work with Prince lead to a solo recording contract at Warner Bros. Records. Though a full-length release never materialized, the deal did yield Collins' recording of the Top 20 Adult Contemporary song Thanks to You, produced by Clif Magness, the theme song to the Paramount Pictures' film Andre. A music video for the song is included at the end of the movie.

Apart from her singing career, Collins has also appeared in several television shows and motion pictures. She played the role of Tina in the 1991 film A Rage in Harlem, starring Gregory Hines and Forest Whitaker. She also starred in another film entitled Why Colors? and played her highest-profile role as Cinderella on a first-season episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Collins was previously married to Bobby Smith Jr., screenwriter for the urban drama Jason's Lyric.

She currently lives in Los Angeles with her daughter.

Albums