When he's not freelancing in reviewing, advertising, and technical writing, PAUL COLLINS works a day job as an English instructor at Dominican College. He has degrees in English from the University of California at Davis and the College of William & Mary, and is completing his doctorate at City University of NY Graduate Center. His first exposure to music was through 8 tracks that his older brother abandoned after leaving for college. These fraternal rejects were listened to endlessly, so it's not surprising that all three of them-Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Honky Chateau, and Out of the Blue-have wound up on Paul's desert island discs. Subsequent musical interests have included 70s British progressive rock, British Invasion, delta blues, boogie woogie piano, and a particular infatuation with the Mellotron keyboard. Although he plays an Ovation Magnum bass guitar and on his beloved Mason Hamlin piano, Paul's live musical work has been primarily behind the drum kit. He's worked with Poem Rocket in New York, and in San Francisco with the jump swing band Hooch. He's now the drummer for the Cherie Lebow Band. Paul currently lives in the Haight - Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco, where he dodges skateboarders and tries to avoid writing about himself in the third person. Desert Island Picks Kate Bush-Hounds of Love Yes-Close to the Edge Rick Wakeman-Journey to the Centre of the Earth Rick Wakeman-Country Airs The Beatles-Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band The Beatles-Let it Be King Crimson-Red Elton John-Honky Chateau Leadbelly-Alabama Bound George Harrison-All Things Must Pass Igor Stravinsky-Firebird Suite REM-Fables of the Reconstruction Matthew Sweet-Altered Beast Pink Floyd-Meddle Patrick Moraz-The Story of i Junior Kimbrough-All Night Long Rickie Lee Jones-Traffic From Paradise David Bowie-Hunky Dory Jeff Beck-Beck-ola Radiohead-OK Computer Peter Gabriel -- 2nd eponymous album Ben Folds Five-Ben Folds Five Ludwig Beethoven-Moonlight Sonata ELO-Out of the Blue Terje Rypdal, Miroslav Vitous, Jack DeJohnette-Rypdal / Vitous / DeJohnette, All Music Guide