Seeing his potential and believing he would be a good fit at TK, Finch quickly established himself as a young engineering phenom, recording numerous 45 RPM singles at the label before the age of 17 - including music for the Allman Brothers and Mother's Finest.įinch was eventually introduced to Tone Distributor stockroom clerk, phone receptionist and budding singer/songwriter/keyboardist Harry Wayne Casey (KC). In October 2010, Finch became a nominee to the Songwriters Hall of Fame.In 1972, the direction of dance music changed course throughout the world when bassist/songwriter Rick Finch met Henry Stone (TONE Disributors/TK Records Owner/President/CEO) through introductions by house producers/writers at TK. He is the recipient of an American Music Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame having been a part of the KC and the Sunshine Band legacy. Legacy įinch is a multi- Grammy Award winner with three wins and nine nominations. He served his sentence in Chillicothe Correctional Institution, a medium-security state prison in Ohio, and was released on March 13, 2017. In December 2010, Finch pleaded 'no contest' and was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment. Police stated that during an interview, he admitted to having inappropriate contact with that teen, and other teens aged 13 to 17.Īt his bond hearing on April 6, 2010, Finch entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. On March 23, 2010, Finch was arrested in Newark, Ohio, accused of having inappropriate contact with a 17-year-old male.

The Finch–Casey collaboration produced numerous hits, including ' (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty', ' Get Down Tonight', ' Please Don't Go' and ' Boogie Shoes'. Finch then assembled the future Sunshine Band members, utilizing his already-established friendships with TK session musicians, guitarist Jerome Smith and drummer Robert Johnson. Within weeks of meeting, the Finch-Casey songwriting collaboration began, with their first hit songs recorded by Betty Wright ('Where Is the Love') and George McCrae (' Rock Your Baby'). and in 1972, 'Have A Good Time' for recording artist Jack Vino for Steve Alaimo and TK Records on the Bell Records Label. Prior to his introduction to Casey, Finch had already established himself at TK as a skilled engineer, with numerous singles produced before the age of 17, including various tracks for the Allman Brothers and Mother's Finest. Casey was hired to work in the shipping department and act as TK's occasional receptionist. Henry Stone, Clarence Reid and Willie Clark (in a comment to SongFacts on an interview conducted with Finch in 2010) introduced Finch to Harry Wayne Casey, three years his senior. His high school attendance suffered as he spent every free moment at TK Records and unbeknownst to his mother, he dropped out of high school his sophomore year and shortly thereafter was hired as a part-time recording engineer for the label. A schoolmate introduced him to the singer-songwriter Clarence Reid from TK Records. įinch became interested in audio recording techniques while working at an Opa Locka, Florida electronics and record store. He joined several country bands before joining the band Ball & Chain. In his early teens, Finch got his first electric bass guitar and began to learn country music bass lines. His musical tastes grew to include soul and country music. His favorite group growing up was The Beatles. At five years old and the second youngest of five children, Finch's father died unexpectedly leaving his mother to raise Finch and his four siblings alone. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits.īorn in Indianapolis, Indiana, Finch's family moved to Hialeah, Florida, when he was an infant. Along with Harry Wayne Casey, he co-wrote the majority of the KC and the Sunshine Band music catalog, to include five No. He is best known as the co-founder, producer and former bass guitar player of KC and the Sunshine Band.

Richard Raymond Finch (born January 23, 1954) is an American songwriter, producer, and arranger.

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