Joseph "Chick" Finney ( – December 11, 1975) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and businessman.

Early life

Finney was a native of

St. Louis St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...

and attended

Vashon High School Vashon High School is a high school of the St. Louis Public Schools in St. Louis, Missouri. When it opened in 1927, it was the second high school for black students in St. Louis. History Designed by Rockwell M. Milligan, the school opened on Se ...

. He became interested in

piano A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...

after seeing

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous Big band, jazz orchestra from 1924 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D ...

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.

Career

Finney worked as a background pianist for the St. Louis Crackerjacks in 1933 and 1934. Tunes written by him were performed by Tuba Skinny and

Hot Lips Page Oran Thaddeus "Hot Lips" Page (January 27, 1908 – November 5, 1954) was an American jazz trumpeter, singer, and bandleader. He was known as a scorching soloist and powerful vocalist. Page was a member of Walter Page's Blue Devils, Artie Sh ...

. Finney later started a public relations firm and was a columnist for the '' St. Louis Argus''. He later produced a regional talent show called ''Stars of Tomorrow.''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Finney, Chick 1910s births 1975 deaths Year of birth uncertain Musicians from St. Louis Jazz musicians from Missouri American jazz pianists Vashon High School alumni