Mike Finnigan
Encyclopedia
Mike Finnigan is an American
keyboard
player and vocalist, his specialty being the Hammond Organ
.
, Joe Cocker
, Etta James
, Sam Moore
, Crosby Stills and Nash, Dave Mason
, Buddy Guy
, Manhattan Transfer
, Taj Mahal
, Michael McDonald
, Maria Muldaur
, Peter Frampton
, Cher
, Ringo Starr
, Leonard Cohen
, Tower of Power
, Rod Stewart
, David Coverdale
, Tracy Chapman
and Destruments. His recording with the group Finnigan & Wood entitled "Crazed Hipsters" is considered a midwest R&B/Rock cult classic. He recorded two solo records in the 70's, one notably with legendary rhythm and blues producer Jerry Wexler
. He later collaborated with two other Columbia Artists, Les Dudek
and Jim Krueger, with whom he formed DFK (Dudek, Finnegan, and Krueger) in 1978. Finnigan is also considered by many such as Jerry Wexler
, Mavis Staples
, Etta James
, Stephen Stills
. John Porter
, Stephen "Doc" Kupka and Tom Wilson
as one of most soulful vocalists ever.
More recently, his work featured on the CD by The Finnigan Brothers (NashFilms Records), a collaboration with his younger brother Sean and founding member of Bread, Robb Royer
.
He is twice a winner of the W.C. Handy Blues Music Award for his work with Taj Mahal
as a member of the Phantom Blues Band.
in 1945. He attended University of Kansas
on a basketball scholarship. He has been married to Candy Finnigan (INTERVENTION) for forty years. They have two children, Bridget and Kelly. The Finnigans live in Southern California.
Finnigan is also politically active as a liberal blogger, regularly contributing to the weblog Crooks and Liars
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
keyboard
Electronic keyboard
An electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
player and vocalist, his specialty being the Hammond Organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
.
Career
Finnigan has toured and sessioned for the likes of Jimi HendrixJimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
, Etta James
Etta James
Etta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
, Sam Moore
Sam Moore
Samuel David Moore is an American Southern Soul and Rhythm & Blues singer who was the tenor vocalist for the soul vocal duo Sam & Dave from 1961 through 1981...
, Crosby Stills and Nash, Dave Mason
Dave Mason
David Thomas "Dave" Mason is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Worcester, who first found fame with the rock band Traffic...
, Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
, Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer is an American vocal music group. There have been two manifestations of the group, with Tim Hauser being the only person to be part of both...
, Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal (musician)
Henry Saint Clair Fredericks , who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. He incorporates elements of world music into his music...
, Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald (singer)
Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan...
, Maria Muldaur
Maria Muldaur
Maria Muldaur is a folk-blues singer who was part of the American folk music revival in the early 1960s...
, Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
, Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
, Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
, Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
, Tower of Power
Tower of Power
Tower of Power is an American R&B-based horn section and band, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing for over 43 years. They are best known for their funky soul sound highlighted by a powerful horn section...
, Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
, David Coverdale
David Coverdale
David 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
, Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her singles "Fast Car", "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", "Baby Can I Hold You", "Give Me One Reason" and "Telling Stories". She is a multi-platinum and four-time Grammy Award-winning artist.-Biography:Tracy Chapman was born in Cleveland,...
and Destruments. His recording with the group Finnigan & Wood entitled "Crazed Hipsters" is considered a midwest R&B/Rock cult classic. He recorded two solo records in the 70's, one notably with legendary rhythm and blues producer Jerry Wexler
Jerry Wexler
Gerald "Jerry" Wexler was a music journalist turned music producer, and was regarded as one of the major record industry players behind music from the 1950s through the 1980s...
. He later collaborated with two other Columbia Artists, Les Dudek
Les Dudek
Les Dudek is an American guitarist.-Early years:Les Dudek's father, Harold, was born in Campbell, Nebraska, and was a World War II veteran in the United States Navy. His mother, Alma, born in Brooklyn, was a former Radio City Music Hall Rockette. Les has one older sister, Sandy, who was born in...
and Jim Krueger, with whom he formed DFK (Dudek, Finnegan, and Krueger) in 1978. Finnigan is also considered by many such as Jerry Wexler
Jerry Wexler
Gerald "Jerry" Wexler was a music journalist turned music producer, and was regarded as one of the major record industry players behind music from the 1950s through the 1980s...
, Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer, actress and civil rights activist who recorded with The Staple Singers, her family's band.-Biography:...
, Etta James
Etta James
Etta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
, Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
Stephen Arthur Stills is an American guitarist and singer/songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash . He has performed on a professional level in several other bands as well as maintaining a solo career at the same time...
. John Porter
John Porter
John Porter may refer to:* John Porter , partner of Anita Lipnicka* John Porter , trainer in British Thoroughbred flat racing* John Porter , hockey player...
, Stephen "Doc" Kupka and Tom Wilson
Tom Wilson
Thomas Blanchard Wilson Jr. was an American record producer best known for his work in the 1960s with Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa, Simon and Garfunkel and The Velvet Underground.-Starting out:...
as one of most soulful vocalists ever.
More recently, his work featured on the CD by The Finnigan Brothers (NashFilms Records), a collaboration with his younger brother Sean and founding member of Bread, Robb Royer
Robb Royer
Robert Wilson "Robb" Royer was the bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, and songwriter with Bread from 1968 to 1971. While he was with the band, they had a #5 UK/#1 US hit single with "Make It With You"...
.
He is twice a winner of the W.C. Handy Blues Music Award for his work with Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal (musician)
Henry Saint Clair Fredericks , who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. He incorporates elements of world music into his music...
as a member of the Phantom Blues Band.
Personal
Finnigan was born in Troy, OhioTroy, Ohio
* - Sports :In addition to Troy High School athletics, Troy is home to the Miami Valley Silverbacks indoor football team of the Continental Indoor Football League....
in 1945. He attended University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
on a basketball scholarship. He has been married to Candy Finnigan (INTERVENTION) for forty years. They have two children, Bridget and Kelly. The Finnigans live in Southern California.
Finnigan is also politically active as a liberal blogger, regularly contributing to the weblog Crooks and Liars
Crooks and Liars
Crooks and Liars is an American liberal blog founded by John Amato. Along with John Amato, frequent contributors include Nicole Belle, Logan Murphy, Mike Finnigan, David Neiwert, SilentPatriot, , Susie Madrak, Nonny Mouse, Kenneth Quinnell, and Howie Klein. Journalist Tina Dupuy is the managing...
.
Selected discography
- 1968 Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland
- 1970 The Jerry Hahn Brotherhood - The Jerry Hahn Brotherhood
- 1972 Finnigan & Wood - Crazed Hipsters
- 1976 Mike Finnigan - Mike Finnigan
- 1978 Mike Finnigan - Black & White
- 1980 Dudek, Finnigan, Krueger - DFK
- 2000 Tracy Chapman - Telling Stories
- 2006 Keb' Mo' - Suitcase
- 2007 Joe Cocker - Hymn For My Soul
- 2010 Imus Ranch Record II - "Part Time Love" (with the Phantom Blues Band)
- 2011 Finnigan & Wood - "It's Only A Rock and Roll Show" (recorded 1971, previously unreleased)