Colle´ Kharis

Colin Alwin Harris (born 6 June 1974), professionally known by his stage name Colle´ Kharis (pronounced Collay Karis), is a Guyanese American reggae and dancehall recording artist hailing from the small country of Guyana, South America.

He is best known for his 2022 single "Johnny Don't Cry".

Colle´ Kharis was born in Kitty, a district of Georgetown, in Guyana's Demerara-Mahaica Region.

He grew up in nearby Bachelor's Adventure, a semi-rural village on the east coast of Guyana, until relocating to the United States.

His stage name, Colle´ Kharis, is a byproduct of his birth name, Colin Harris.

Colle´ was the fifth of six children.

His father, a veteran of the Guyana Defense Force, died when Colle´ was thirteen years old.

His mother worked as a sales manager at a community shopping plaza in Guyana.

In 1990, he immigrated to Brooklyn, New York, with his family.

After graduating from high school, he joined the United States military.

Colle´ Kharis earned an Associate Degree in Electronics Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force and dual associate degrees in General Studies and Industrial management Technology from Northwest Florida State College.

He served with 96th Communications Squadron during the War in Afghanistan and Second Persian Gulf War.

Colle´ Kharis enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1999 and obtained the AFSC of 2E0X1 (Ground Radar Systems).

The highest rank he achieved was Staff sergeant before receiving an honorable discharge in 2005.

In 2005, Colle´ Kharis embarked on a civil servant career with the Department of Defense, stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida Panhandle.

It was first released in 2005 by the independent label, Rac Jam Records, and then rereleased through DistroKid in May 2019.

Colle´ perfected his craft as a performer by sharing the stage as the opening act for Jamaican reggae artist Wayne Wonder and popular Hip-hop artists such as Slick Rick, Mr. Cheeks, Ying Yang Twins, Pastor Troy, Chamillionaire, Lil’ Flip, Roy Jones Jr., and more.

In 2022, Colle´ Kharis recorded "Johnny Don't Cry", a track inspired, in part, by the public trial of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, and Tomorrow's Freedom, a revolutionary song tackling the injustices against the poor and minorities.

In 2023, he released his sophomore album titled The Book of Colle´ Kharis."

In 2008, he achieved a bachelor's degree in Electronics and Instrumentation Technology from Excelsior College.

His professional journey continued to evolve when, in late 2008, he joined the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an Airway Transportation Systems Specialist (Electrical Engineering Technician), based in Orlando, Florida.

Later, in 2010, he received a Master of Science degree in Management Information Systems from Troy University.

While working as a Airway Transportation Systems Specialist for the FAA, he pursued a Educational Specialist degree in Education, specializing in Curriculum and Instruction at The University of West Florida, which he completed in 2018.

In 2021, Colle´ Kharis capped off his academic journey with a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Instruction and Human Performance Technology from The University of West Florida.

Colle´ Kharis' got his passion for music from his father.

As a young boy, Colle´ watch his father routinely playing his collection of vinyl records – consistently flipping the record to the opposite side to listen to the other songs.

His interest grew for deejaying after routinely watching his favorite reggae artists performing on Reggae Sunsplash and Sting reggae music festivals on VHS.

At Age 14, Colle´ started writing lyrics to the instrumentals (riddim) side of his father's size 45 vinyl records.

Shortly after, Colle´ picked up the microphone and began toasting under the moniker of Scorpion.

In 2018, Colle´ Kharis expanded his horizons by accepting an interagency position as a Systems and Security Specialist for the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System, marking a transition to Tampa, Florida.

However, in 2021, after a successful and impactful career in aviation, Colle´ Kharis retired from the FAA to pursue his true passion—music.

Today, he thrives as a full-time fusion-reggae recording artist, channeling his creative energies into his music career.

Colle´ Kharis began recording his full-length debut album, Defined Versatility, which he co-produced.

He completed and released Defined Versatility, while serving in the United States Air Force in the Florida Panhandle.