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"Music is the language of the heart. On a level that far transcends the articulation of the spoken word, it has the power to speak directly to the soul. Abundant comfort and healing lies within its bosom." Colin G. Matthews Colin was born in Trinidad in the Caribbean. At a very young age he showed an uncanny ability to memorize music he heard on the radio and television. At the age of 12 he enrolled in the Walters School of Music's violin program and one year later won the prestigious National Music Festival in his age group as well as the Under 19 age group. At the age of 18 he led two orchestra groups to victory in the same competition. When he was 18 he began training in oilfield technology with Texaco and went on to become the youngest refinery operator hired by Texaco in Trinidad at the age of 19. In 1986 the petrochemical plant where Colin worked exploded landing him in hospital with severe burns over 40 percent of his body and leaving him in a coma for over a week. Miraculously, his hands. which were in gloves at the time of the incident, were unharmed. As part of his year long convalescence he started playing the violin again to regain movement in his arms. In 1988, while on a study project in Boston, Colin was entranced by a young violinist playing in the subway for tips. This event was to change his life. He gave up his job and his homeland and began playing in the subways and streets of Boston where his reputation grew and his music flourished. In 1995 while performing in Boston he met Wendy van Dam of The Netherlands who was visiting the United States for the first time. They fell deeply in love and were married in 2002. Wendy has taken charge of designing Colin's CD's and promotional material. She is his creative partner in all aspects of his musical arrangements, even sometimes playing synthesized instruments on his recordings. In the winter of 2004 Colin accepted an offer from Dennis Gomes, operations president for The Tropicana group of casnios to join an elite group of musicians at 'The Quarter', the retail, dinning & entertainment resort and latest addition to the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City. He performed there from its opening in December 2004 until June 2006. He spent from 2008 to 2010 in Indiana performing at Indiana Live,Hoosier Park, Majestic Star and Belterra Casinos. In December of 2010 Colin and Wendy made their way back to New Jersey to accept an offer to be resident violinist for Resorts Casino in Atlantic City. In August of 2013 Colin, Wendy and brand new daughter Aileena made their way back to Indiana where they now reside. Colin is once again performing for numerous casinos and private parties in the Hoosier state.