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Norman Keith Collins (January 14, 1911 - June 12, 1973) was a prominent American tattoo artist who was also known as "Sailor Jerry".
LifeCollins was born on January 14, 1911 in Reno, Nevada. As a child, he hopped freight trains across the country and learned tattooing from a man named Tatts Thomas, who is credited for showing him how to use tattoo machines. Practicing on drifters, he later sailed the Pacific Ocean before settling in Hawaii. A big brute with a dirty mouth, he often wore plain white T-shirts that exposed his ink-sleeved arms. Mike Malone, who took over Sailor Jerry's shop after he died, described Jerry as "a class-A pirate." At age 19, Collins enlisted in the United States Navy. It was during his subsequent travels at sea when he was exposed to the art and imagery of Southeast Asia. He remained a sailor for his entire life thereafter. Even during his career as a tattoo artist, he worked as a licensed skipper of a large three-masted schooner, on which he conducted tours of the Hawaiian islands. Sailing and tattooing were only two of his professional endeavors. He played saxophone in his own dance band and for years, frequently hosted his own radio show on KTRG, where he lectured against the impending downfall of the American political system by infiltration of liberals. He was a prolific writer and carried on in-depth communications with many pen-pals throughout the world. Legacy of Sailor JerryCollins entrusted his artwork to his two proteges, Ed Hardy and Mike Malone, both of whom have become prominent figures in their own right. Hardy, who turned down an MFT scholarship to Yale in order to pursue tattooing, is known for his artistic sophistication and large-scale tattoos. Malone, who designed under the name "Rollo Banks", and was known for his conceptual boldness and distinctive designs, died in 2007. Norman Collins is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, a military cemetery located in Punchbowl Crater in Honolulu. His grave site is 124/Section T. Sailor Jerry Ltd.
In 1999, Hardy and Malone partnered with a small independent Philadelphia clothing company to establish Sailor Jerry Ltd., which produces clothing and an idiosyncratic collection of other items, such as ash trays, high-top sneakers, playing cards, church keys and shot glasses. An anti-sweatshop company, nearly all Sailor Jerry items are produced in the United States and sold via the company's web site or from the Sailor Jerry Store at 116 S. 13th Street in Philadelphia, which frequently plays host to performances by independent musicians. Links to bands the company supports are a prominent feature of the web site. The company also showcases rising talents with its "Artist Series", which it describes as a way to "keep Sailor Jerry's legacy alive and kicking". In 2002, Converse licensed many tattoo artworks from Sailor Jerry to print onto their Hi-Top, Oxford, & SkidGrip Deck shoes. Sailor Jerry Ltd. produces a 92 proof spiced Navy rum featuring a quintessential Sailor Jerry hula girl on the label. The front label also peels off to reveal various Pin-up girls designed by Sailor Jerry, however it does not peel off easily so once the bottle is empty, the pin up girl is also revealed. It is based on the kind of rums that sailors used to create by infusing on-board stocks of rum with spices. Sailor Jerry rum is distilled in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Norman's letters, art and flash are owned and managed by Sailor Jerry Ltd. Sailor Jerry Rum got its influence from Sailors who frequently traveled around the world collecting barrels of rum from the Caribbean for the shipmen to drink during their travels. As the rum was of very cheap quality at the time, they would frequently pick up spices and flavors from the Far East and Asia to throw into the barrels to infuse a flavor much more enjoyable for the sailors to drink. UK recipe changeIn 2010, Sailor Jerry Spiced Caribbean Rum underwent a recipe change in the UK to bring it in line with the original US recipe, which was less sweet.[citation needed] Sailor Jerry Tattoos
A line of Converse shoes depicting some of Sailor Jerry's original tattoo artwork. Other popular symbols include:
He expanded the array of colors available by developing his own safe pigments. He created needle formations that embedded pigment with much less trauma to the skin, and he was one of the first to utilize single-use needles and hospital-quality sterilization. His attention to detail was so precise that the depiction of rigging in his nautical tattoos was said to be perfectly accurate. Artistically, his influence stems from his union of the roguish attitude of the American sailor with the mysticism and technical prowess of the Far East. He maintained a close correspondence with Japanese tattoo masters during his career. He regarded tattoos as the ultimate rebellion against "the Squares". He took the bold line style of tattooing and incorporated what he learned from his correspondences with the Japanese masters, known as Horis. He brought this style to the Sailor Jerry Tattoo parlor he opened on Hotel Street in Honolulu. Sailor Jerry's last studio was in Honolulu's Chinatown, then the only place on the island where tattoo studios were located. He thrived in the hotbed of competition. His work was so widely copied, he took to printing "The Original Sailor Jerry" on his business cards. References
External links
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