Kent Finlay, courtesy photo
Also printed in March 2015 issue of Buddy Magazine
Kent Finlay, long-time promoter of Texas music, passed away early in March at his home in Martindale, surrounded by family and friends just as he had been in life. Some of them sang and played their music all the while. This only hours after Mr. Finlay, himself, sang his signature original, “They Call It The Hill Country.”
Finlay was the owner and hands-on operator of the Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos. This little warehouse-turned-venue by the railroad tracks gave life and breath from the day the doors opened in 1974,to so many musicians no one had heard of — yet. It was a music-makers mecca. That was the era of Progressive Country/ Cosmic Cowboy/ Redneck Rock as the new Texas music movement was dubbed. Young upstarts like James McMurtry, Bruce Robison, and Todd Snider shared open mics; and older upstarts like Willie Nelson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Townes Van Zandt brought in their enthusiasm along with their music.
Finlay’s passion, mixed with loyalty, began early on, too, and helped launch several careers along the way. George Strait had a little 5-piece band called “Ace In The Hole.” They played their first gig at the Cheatham Street Warehouse on Oct. 13, 1975, on a stage of boards on cinderblocks and with one overhead 100w light bulb for stage lighting.
Finlay said a couple of years ago, “That first show turned into a weekly gig for George and
Mary Jane Farmer and Kent Finlay
the guys. They got better and better with time and practice.” Finlay drove Strait to Nashville in 1977 to cut his first demo. Strait wrote a note to Finlay on the front of a later CD, “Thanks for your years of support, years of friendship, and for giving me and the guys a place to perform when nobody else would. I’ll always remember the years of fun at Cheatham Street.”
Strait issued a press release on the Monday of his friend’s death, saying, “Country music — and just music in general really — lost a great friend today. His legend will live forever in Texas, though. We’ll never forget our friend Kent Finlay. Sad day.”
Finlay had talked previously, too, about seeing the talent in another young upstart, and gave Stevie Ray Vaughn a regular Tuesday night for several years on that same funky wood stage.
Finlay talked last year with this writer about that loyalty he felt in nurturing unknowns.
“I have a bunch of up-and-coming guys under my wing. Usually I look for someone who writes great songs, first of all. I can give them enough shows to build them a following and develop their skills. If I don’t give them enough gigs to grow, I’m not helping them or anyone.” Finley added in that conversation that he wished he could help even more, but “There’s only seven days in a week.”
Will Arrington was one of those who Finlay took beneath his wide wingspan. Arrington played at CSW in regular intervals for several years. Arrington described his friend, Kent, as “supportive, and critical, but in a good way. If you were doing something wrong, he would tell you, but in a way that made you want to do it better. Everybody says he is a dreamer, a Texas dreamer, someone who dreams of success for everyone. He would encourage you to do the best you could possibly do to achieve your dream,” Arrington said.
Kent Finlay, courtesy photo
David Card, owner of Poor David’s Pub in Dallas, was a peer of Finlay’s in every sense of the word. He said he only met Finlay once, at a seminar where they were both on the panel as club owners. “I was immediately struck with his humility. He was a gentle, friendly guy. Anyone who can keep a music venue going that long, has to have a love of live music and a love of people. Without both, they will kick your ass.”
Another who called Kent Finlay “one of the greatest friends I have ever known” was Big John Mills. Mills and others spent that last Sunday of Finlay’s life and the last few weeks prior to his death recording some of Finlay’s songs that Finlay wanted to save “before the Lord called him home.”
Kent Finlay was born on Feb. 9, 1938. He died on Texas Independence Day, March 2, 2015. Surviving are many family members, including his three children: Jenni Finlay, Sterling Finlay, and HalleyAnna Finlay.
“He died on Texas Independence Day,” Jenni appreciated that Monday morning. “You know he would have loved that.”
Jenni said of her dad and their life together, “Kent Finlay truly and freely gave his life to others. He was an inspiration as a songwriter, a mentor and, most importantly, a father. I began playing music with my father when I was eight years old. For a decade, we drove thousands of miles – dad as the singer and me the young fiddler – playing fairs and festivals, bars and honky-tonks. It was a journey I’ll never forget.
“If I started going on about what it was like growing up watching people like George Strait and Stevie Ray Vaughan and Willie Nelson perform every night, I’d go on and on forever. Instead, I will say this: Dad, I love you. Thank you for all the memories. I’m sure the state of Texas would agree. You were one of a kind.”