I was going through some archival KCSB items today and ran across a "KC and the Sunshine Band" concert program from 'I think' 1978 --- what a treat to read through the history and the bio's of all of the band members!But Rick Finch's stood out particularly for me (naturally!), but not just because I work with him, manage his career or because we are great friends - but because of how he virtually is no different from the young man described in this 30 year old program. I think that's important for people to know.
Even Harry Wayne Casey ("KC") had great things to say about Rick in this program - a description of Rick which holds true to this day:
When asked about his co-writer/co-producer, Rick Finch, KC is quick to attribute a large part of the KC and the Sunshine Band success to his partner: "Rick is an electronics genius. To be his age and to know what he knows and to do what he's done is amazing and unique."
Yes, like for everyone, time gives us tunnel vision into our past, and Rick is no different --- he is wiser for the lessons learned, sad for the losses, nostalgic for the good times --- but what sets Rick apart from perhaps most others in this business who possess a track record as impressive as his - he is a man who is not content to sit back and assume the role of 'observer' or to rely on his past accomplishments to define him --- Rick sees infinite possibilities and an abundance of talent in an industry barely surviving, and is not deterred by the insurmountable obstacles in trying to bring this amazing artistry to the world's consciousness - and until he draws his last breath, will continue to dedicate himself solely to that mission.
Does he have the answers? I believe he does!!! (I KNOW he does!!!)
So as you read through the copy below, you may ask, "What hasn't changed???"
Well.... he's still driven by that same passion for music which grabbed his heart and soul at age seven...
He's a focused engineer with skills, intuition and an expertise beyond what most people coming up the ranks today could only hope to have in their own careers 30 years from now...
Rick's interest in mentoring others still exists, but has expanded to areas which include not just engineering, but performance, musicianship and genuine quality of character (all of the parents of our younger performers and songwriters have been quick to point out to us the amazing improvements in their children on ALL fronts after working with Rick)...
Fast cars??? Oh yeah! (but let's not go there!!!)
Love and devotion to family??? Without question (and which has touchingly spilled over to my own 88 year old mother, who refers to Rick as "her other son").
"Bird adopter?" Yes, I see that as something which will pick up speed in the not too distant future (which should work well with his new found love of CATS!)
Yes, I believe the 'what you see is what you get' core of the Rick Finch from 30 years ago hasn't changed a bit (with perhaps the reference to him being 'soft-spoken' --- the Rick Finch "I" know is gregariously loud and funny beyond words --- I should have killer abs from all of the double-over laughing we've done!!!).
At any rate........... sit back and enjoy a little slice of history -- and be thankful that there is a Rick Finch working in the music industry today; someone who will never compromise his professional integrity or the integrity of others --- and stay tuned......... the 'next big thing' we've been working on is about ready to take flight!
**************
Richard Finch would rather be engineering a record than talking about himself, but soft-spoken and smiling, he volunteers precious time to chat. Putting the story together, he scratches his head, searching for the proper order of events, trying to be truthful without giving away too many of the industry's secrets. Fine, dark brown hair frames the boyish features... but this is no paradox. Rick Finch is young... very young to have accomplished so much.
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Richard is the second youngest of five children. The family relocated to Florida one year later and Hialeah has remained their home. His father passed away when Rick was five. Powered by his affection for music and the desire to make life a little more comfortable for his mother, Rick has far exceeded his original goals. The respect he has gained for his performing, writing, producing and engineering skills is justly deserved.
A passion for records and fast cars characterized Rick's personality at the tender age of seven. The Beatles were happening then and he played their music endlessly, as well as the soul artists of that time. When second oldest brother, Junie, recorded a song in one of those booths that put the tune on a white wax disc for 50 cents, Rick was hypnotized. He had to know how those records were made... what it took to put all of those sounds together. The search seemed futile... writing to RCA for information, looking up recording studios in the phone book... it was a dead end street. Somehow, someway, Rick Finch did find the answers.
With a feeling for the guitar, Finch picked up his first bass when he was eleven. By the age of twelve, he was playing Country & Western music at the Disabled Veterans Club with a neighborhood band. The bass came naturally... he found C&W music easy to perform. Still, it was soul music that he wanted to perfect on the bass. In school, he met a few boys - some white, some black, who thought Rick's bass playing was terrific and professional. They formed a band called 'Ball and Chain' and grew up together, appearing as an act for the next five years. They played Top 40 music in a Miami Beach club called The Castaways for about 2 1/2 years.
A school friend, Lamont Synder, acquainted with recording artist Clarence Reid, introduced Rick, and soon he began spending his after school free time at the TK studio watching, learning, asking questions... absorbing all he could of this new "high energy" musical experience.
Apparently TK didn't consider Rick's curiosity a nuisance. Building his education on the console, they thought they were giving a kid a break. What they had done was open a major door for an electronic wizard. Rick at 16 years of age began engineering recording sessions.
TK hired him as a part time engineer for studio maintenance. Three weeks later he met Harry Casey. The two music enthusiasts met while packing orders in the warehouse. Casey wasn't aware that Rick played bass in the beginning, but soon they were collaborating on song ideas, cutting demos with basic, good concepts. The first demos were cut on Rick's 4-track TEAC in an apartment.
Lyric writing is part and parcel of Rick's talents, but the musical production end best suits his creativity.
"I'm more into chord changes and the beat and the percussion, phrasing and the background voices too. KC's really good at the lyrics." Casey and Finch put equal effort into the arrangement of those background voices that enhance the quality of The Sunshine Band melodies.
But there's too much to do to sit and dwell on material gains. They newly-built Sunshine Sound recording studio affords him the freedom to create at the moment of inspiration. Now Rick has all the time he needs to record the proper feeling. His instrument is a Fender Jazz bass for performing and he possesses a Telecaster and Mustang basses as well. He'd like to be adept on numerous instruments and would someday enjoy putting together a school for audio-engineering in the Hialeah area.
He also cares about his album-buying audience.
"We try to make everything that goes on one of our albums a hit because today people are going out and spending top dollars for albums that only have one or two singles on them and that's ridiculous! To me, an album's life should be longer than that. There should be more singles on an album and that's what we're not afraid to do."
At home, Richard has a large collection of tropical birds... 51 to be exact! As the story goes, a turquoise parakeet accidentally landed on Rick's shoulder while he was gassing up at a station. He took it home and a week later, bought it a few companions. A parrot named 'Rainbow' conned Rick into purchasing him with a simple "hello." When Rick greets his feathered buddies each morning, Rainbow can be heard to chant without coercion, "I love you, baby.'
Knowing Richard Finch, it's easy to see why.
www.rickfinch.com
