R&B and funk guitarist ‘Catfish’ Collins, who played with James Brown and others, dies at 66

R&B, funk guitarist ‘Catfish’ Collins dies at 66

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 died Friday of cancer.

Bootsy Collins’ wife, Patti, said Wednesday that Catfish Collins played with James Brown’s J.B.’s, Parliament-Funkadelic and in her husband’s Rubber Band. A statement from Bootsy Collins says his brother was a father figure and his “best friend.”

The brothers backed up James Brown on classics such as “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” and later joined Parliament-Funkadelic. They also performed on the soundtrack to the 2007 Judd Apatow comedy “Superbad.”

A celebration of Collins’ life will be held Sept. 4 at the Madison Theater in Covington, Ky.