Benny Collins Dies

Benny Collins, legendary production manager and 2014 Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, died after a battle with pneumonia at Marin General Hospital in California Jan. 27.

– Benny Collins

Collins worked with everybody: Michael Jackson, U2, Journey, David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Janet Jackson, Madonna and Lionel Richie, and even took Wham! to China in 1985.

“Benny is one of the most honest, most ethical people I know – it’s that simple,” production Manager Charlie Hernandez told FOH Online when Collins won the Parnelli award. “He’s always able to tell the truth, whether it’s to a cab driver or the King of Pop.”

In fact, Collins gave Hernandez a job as site coordinator for Michael Jackson.

“He was my friend; I’ll miss him,” longtime friend Steve Macfadyen, who was with Collins in his final days, told Pollstar.