Joseph "Chick" Finney (c. 1911 – December 11, 1975) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and businessman.
Chick Finney | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Joseph Finney |
| Born | c. 1911 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | December 11, 1975 (aged 64) |
| Genres | Jazz, big band |
| Instruments | Piano |
Early life
editFinney was a native of St. Louis and attended Vashon High School. He became interested in piano after seeing Duke Ellington perform at the St. Louis Coliseum and later purchased sheet music to begin self-study. Finney also took lessons with J. Roy Terry, a professor of music.[1]
Career
editFinney worked as a background pianist for the St. Louis Crackerjacks in 1933 and 1934.[2] Tunes written by him were performed by Tuba Skinny and Hot Lips Page.[3] Finney later started a public relations firm and was a columnist for the St. Louis Argus.[4] He later produced a regional talent show called Stars of Tomorrow.[5]
References
edit- ^ Cortinovis, Irene (May 21, 1971). "Interview With Chick Finney And Martin Luther Mackay" (PDF). shsmo.org.
- ^ Early, Gerald Lyn (2001). Miles Davis and American Culture. Missouri History Museum. ISBN 978-1-883982-38-6.
- ^ "Chick Finney". Discogs. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
- ^ National Roster of Minority Professional Consulting Services: Prepared for the Interagency Task Force on Procurement for Minority Businessmen. Government Programs Coordination Division, Office of Minority Business Enterprise, U.S. Department of Congress. 1971. p. 26.
- ^ Wesley, Doris A.; Price, Wiley; Morris, Ann (1999). Lift Every Voice and Sing: St. Louis African-Americans in the Twentieth Century : Narratives. University of Missouri Press. ISBN 978-0-8262-1253-5.