Finley Quaye
Encyclopedia
Finley Quaye is a British
musician
. He won the 1997 Mobo Award for best reggae
act, and the 1998 BRIT Award
for Best British Male Solo Artist.
of jazz
musician, Cab Kaye
, the half-brother
of guitarist
, Caleb Quaye
, and brother
of jazz musician, Terri Quaye
. Finley's mother, Sharon McGowan, died when he was 10 years old in London of a heroin overdose.
Born in Edinburgh, Quaye went to school in London
, Manchester
and Edinburgh. However, he left school with no qualifications. Before making records he took employment spraying cars, smoking fish, making futons, and as a stage-rigger and scaffolder.
His father was born in London
, but considered himself as Africa
n. Although known as Cab Kaye his full name was Nii Lante Augustus Kwamlah Quaye and was a Chief of the GA tribe centralized in Jamestown, Accra
. Kaye was the son of the pianist
Caleb Jonas Quaye a.k.a Mope Desmond, who was born in Accra, Ghana. Kaye did not grow up with his father and only found out, in his twenties, about his father's history as a musician. Mope Desmond, Cab Kaye and Finley Quaye have all played Glasgow
's Barrowlands, Wolverhampton
's Wulfrun Hall and London
's Cafe d'Paris. Finley was on tour with his band
when he met his father for the first time in Amsterdam
.
Finley Quaye was inspired early on in his childhood by jazz musicians, Pete King and Ronnie Scott
who started off his musical career making tea and running errands in Finley's father's band, and Lionel Hampton
. Additionally, Duke Ellington
was Finley Quaye's godfather. Quaye heard jazz as a child living in London with his mother, who would take him with her to Ronnie Scott
's jazz club, to catch performances of American jazz musicians touring Europe such as Buddy Rich
, who recorded his live album there in 1980. His mother introduced him to Lionel Hampton in Edinburgh.
He has two children; Theo and Caleb.
recording contract
with Polydor Records
, and moved to New York
. He began working with Epic
/Sony
when Polydor let him out of contract, and in late 1997 he reached the UK
Top 20 twice with "Sunday Shining", and "Even After All". His reputation was established by Maverick A Strike, released in September 1997. It went gold
less than three weeks later, and led directly to the BRIT Award
victory. Maverick A Strike is now multi platinum. In 1998, he performed George Gershwin
's "It Ain't Necessarily So
" for the Red Hot Organization
's compilation album Red Hot + Rhapsody, a tribute to George Gershwin
, which raised money for various charities devoted to increasing AIDS
awareness and fighting the disease.Two more albums were released on Epic
, Vanguard (2000) and Much More Than Much Love (2004). "Spiritualized" became his last single to score a top 40 landing in the UK charts when it was released in September of the year 2000, reaching number 26. In 2004 the single "Dice
" was released in collaboration with William Orbit
, and featuring Beth Orton
. Quaye has been living and working in Berlin
since 2005. Finley Quaye released the EP "Pound for Pound" with Intune Records in 2008.
He is currently working on a new album with A Guy Called Gerald
and The Stereo MCs
. Finley recorded "Pound For Pound" in 2007 with Norman Grant of the Twinkle Brothers
featuring Sly Dunbar
and Lloyd Parks
. In the past he has worked with Osibisa, both on stage and in the recording studio
, plus Iggy Pop
, Tricky
, Randy Savage
, Primal Scream
, Lee Scratch Perry and Buju Banton
.
He has supported James Brown
, Luciano
, Weller, The Verve
, Ben Harper
, Fun Loving Criminals, Robbie Williams
and The Stereo MCs, and he has been supported by Amy Winehouse
, Natty
, Ken Boothe
and Cath Coffey
of the Stereo MCs.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. He won the 1997 Mobo Award for best reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
act, and the 1998 BRIT Award
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
for Best British Male Solo Artist.
Life
Quaye is the youngest sonSon
A son is a male offspring; a boy or man in relation to his parents. The female analogue is a daughter.-Social issues regarding sons:In pre-industrial societies and some current countries with agriculture-based economies, a higher value was, and still is, assigned to sons rather than daughters,...
of jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician, Cab Kaye
Cab Kaye
Nii-lante Augustus Kwamlah Quaye, better known as Cab Kaye was an English-Ghanaian-Dutch jazz musician, bandleader, entertainer, drummer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter and singer. His singing was influenced by Billie Holiday and he often accompanied himself on piano with a graceful, rhythmic style...
, the half-brother
Sibling
Siblings are people who share at least one parent. A male sibling is called a brother; and a female sibling is called a sister. In most societies throughout the world, siblings usually grow up together and spend a good deal of their childhood socializing with one another...
of guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, Caleb Quaye
Caleb Quaye
Caleb Quaye , is an English Afro-European rock guitarist and studio musician best known for his work in the 1960s and 1970s with Elton John, Mick Jagger, Pete Townshend, Paul McCartney and Hall & Oates...
, and brother
Sibling
Siblings are people who share at least one parent. A male sibling is called a brother; and a female sibling is called a sister. In most societies throughout the world, siblings usually grow up together and spend a good deal of their childhood socializing with one another...
of jazz musician, Terri Quaye
Terri Quaye
Theresa "Terri" Quaye, also Theresa Naa-Koshie is an English singer, pianist, and percussionist. She is the daughter of Cab Kaye and the older sister of Caleb Quaye and Finley Quaye....
. Finley's mother, Sharon McGowan, died when he was 10 years old in London of a heroin overdose.
Born in Edinburgh, Quaye went to school in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and Edinburgh. However, he left school with no qualifications. Before making records he took employment spraying cars, smoking fish, making futons, and as a stage-rigger and scaffolder.
His father was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, but considered himself as Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n. Although known as Cab Kaye his full name was Nii Lante Augustus Kwamlah Quaye and was a Chief of the GA tribe centralized in Jamestown, Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
. Kaye was the son of the pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
Caleb Jonas Quaye a.k.a Mope Desmond, who was born in Accra, Ghana. Kaye did not grow up with his father and only found out, in his twenties, about his father's history as a musician. Mope Desmond, Cab Kaye and Finley Quaye have all played Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
's Barrowlands, Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
's Wulfrun Hall and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Cafe d'Paris. Finley was on tour with his band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
when he met his father for the first time in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.
Finley Quaye was inspired early on in his childhood by jazz musicians, Pete King and Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott was an English jazz tenor saxophonist and jazz club owner.-Life and career:Ronnie Scott was born in Aldgate, east London, into a family of Russian Jewish descent on his father's side, and Portuguese antecedents on his mother's. Scott began playing in small jazz clubs at the age of...
who started off his musical career making tea and running errands in Finley's father's band, and Lionel Hampton
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Like Red Norvo, he was one of the first jazz vibraphone players. Hampton ranks among the great names in jazz history, having worked with a who's who of jazz musicians, from Benny Goodman and Buddy...
. Additionally, Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
was Finley Quaye's godfather. Quaye heard jazz as a child living in London with his mother, who would take him with her to Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott was an English jazz tenor saxophonist and jazz club owner.-Life and career:Ronnie Scott was born in Aldgate, east London, into a family of Russian Jewish descent on his father's side, and Portuguese antecedents on his mother's. Scott began playing in small jazz clubs at the age of...
's jazz club, to catch performances of American jazz musicians touring Europe such as Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.-Early life:...
, who recorded his live album there in 1980. His mother introduced him to Lionel Hampton in Edinburgh.
He has two children; Theo and Caleb.
Career
He made a soloSolo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
, and moved to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He began working with Epic
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
/Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
when Polydor let him out of contract, and in late 1997 he reached the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Top 20 twice with "Sunday Shining", and "Even After All". His reputation was established by Maverick A Strike, released in September 1997. It went gold
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
less than three weeks later, and led directly to the BRIT Award
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
victory. Maverick A Strike is now multi platinum. In 1998, he performed George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
's "It Ain't Necessarily So
It Ain't Necessarily So
"It Ain't Necessarily So" is a popular song with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin. The song comes from the Gershwins' opera Porgy and Bess where it is sung by the character Sportin' Life, a drug dealer, who expresses his doubt about several statements in the Bible.The role of...
" for the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
's compilation album Red Hot + Rhapsody, a tribute to George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
, which raised money for various charities devoted to increasing AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
awareness and fighting the disease.Two more albums were released on Epic
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
, Vanguard (2000) and Much More Than Much Love (2004). "Spiritualized" became his last single to score a top 40 landing in the UK charts when it was released in September of the year 2000, reaching number 26. In 2004 the single "Dice
Dice (Finley Quaye)
"Dice" is a single released by Finley Quaye. It was written with Beth Orton and recorded by William Orbit.-Single use:The single was used in the American Fox network TV series The OC in episode 14 of season one, entitled "The Countdown". The song was a minor hit, helped in part by its inclusion on ...
" was released in collaboration with William Orbit
William Orbit
William Orbit is an English musician, composer and record producer, perhaps best known to most for his work on Madonna's album Ray of Light. He has also co-produced several unreleased Madonna songs originally recorded for other albums...
, and featuring Beth Orton
Beth Orton
Beth Orton is a BRIT Award–winning English singer-songwriter, known for her 'folktronica' sound, which mixes elements of folk and electronica. She was initially recognised for her collaborations with William Orbit and the Chemical Brothers in the mid 1990s. However, these were not Orton's first...
. Quaye has been living and working in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
since 2005. Finley Quaye released the EP "Pound for Pound" with Intune Records in 2008.
He is currently working on a new album with A Guy Called Gerald
A Guy Called Gerald
A Guy Called Gerald is the stage name for the musician, record producer and DJ Gerald Simpson ....
and The Stereo MCs
Stereo MCs
Stereo MCs are an English electronic dance group, which formed in Clapham, London in 1985. They are best known worldwide for their 1992 transatlantic Top 20 hit single, "Connected"...
. Finley recorded "Pound For Pound" in 2007 with Norman Grant of the Twinkle Brothers
Twinkle Brothers
The Twinkle Brothers are a Jamaican reggae band formed in 1962, and still active in the 21st century.-History:The Twinkle Brothers were formed in 1962 by brother Norman and Ralston Grant from Falmouth, Jamaica. The band was expanded with the addition of Eric Barnard , Karl Hyatt , and Albert Green...
featuring Sly Dunbar
Sly Dunbar
Lowell "Sly" Fillmore Dunbar is a drummer.-Biography:Dunbar, whose nickname was reportedly given for his passion for Sly & the Family Stone, launched his musical career while still in his adolescence, playing with a local group, The Yardbrooms, at the age of fifteen...
and Lloyd Parks
Lloyd Parks
Lloyd Parks is a reggae vocalist and bass player.-Biography:Parks' interest in music was fuelled by his uncle Dourie Bryan, who played in a calypso band, and Parks became the band's singer...
. In the past he has worked with Osibisa, both on stage and in the recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
, plus Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
, Tricky
Tricky
Tricky is an English musician and actor. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering sprechgesang lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky encourages an intertwining of societies, particularly in his musical fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop...
, Randy Savage
Randy Savage
Randall Mario Poffo , better known by his ring name "Macho Man" Randy Savage, was an American professional wrestler, best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling .Savage held twenty championships during his professional wrestling career and was a...
, Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
, Lee Scratch Perry and Buju Banton
Buju Banton
Buju Banton is a Jamaican dancehall, ragga, and reggae musician.Banton has recorded pop and dance songs, as well as songs dealing with sociopolitical topics....
.
He has supported James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, Luciano
Luciano (singer)
Luciano is a Jamaican second generation roots reggae artist and poet....
, Weller, The Verve
The Verve
The Verve were an English rock band formed in 1989 in Wigan by lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones, and drummer Peter Salisbury. Guitarist and keyboardist Simon Tong later became a member. Beginning with a psychedelic sound indebted to shoegazing and space...
, Ben Harper
Ben Harper
Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...
, Fun Loving Criminals, Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
and The Stereo MCs, and he has been supported by Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
, Natty
Natty (artist)
Natty is a songwriter, singer and musician from Finsbury Park, North London.- History :Born Alexander Akiloe Philip Modiano in San Francisco, California. Natty moved to London, England with his family at the age of one. His musical eclecticism of today reflects the differing tastes of his parents...
, Ken Boothe
Ken Boothe
Ken Boothe OD is a Jamaican recording artist.-Biography:Ken Boothe was born in the Denham Town area of Kingston in 1948, the youngest of seven children, and began singing in school...
and Cath Coffey
Cath Coffey
Cath Coffey is one of the earliest members of British rap band Stereo MCs. The single "Elevate My Mind", off the Stereo MCs album Supernatural, in which Coffey was the backing vocalist, was the first British rap single to reach the US pop charts.After the release of their album Supernatural, the...
of the Stereo MCs.
Singles and other contributions
- "Finley's Rainbow" - White Label (1993)
- "Finley's Rainbow" on A Guy Called GeraldA Guy Called GeraldA Guy Called Gerald is the stage name for the musician, record producer and DJ Gerald Simpson ....
's Black Secret Technology (1995) - "Sunday Shining" (1997)
- "Even After All" (1997)
- "It's Great When We're Together" (1997)
- "Your Love Gets Sweeter" (1998)
- "Ultra Stimulation" (1998)
- "It Ain't Necessarily SoIt Ain't Necessarily So"It Ain't Necessarily So" is a popular song with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin. The song comes from the Gershwins' opera Porgy and Bess where it is sung by the character Sportin' Life, a drug dealer, who expresses his doubt about several statements in the Bible.The role of...
" album Red Hot + Rhapsody (1998) - "Spiritualized" (2000)
- "Caravan" on Timo Mass' album Loud (2002)
- "Stranges Changes" on A Guy Called GeraldA Guy Called GeraldA Guy Called Gerald is the stage name for the musician, record producer and DJ Gerald Simpson ....
's To All Things What They Need (2005) - "For My Children's Love" (2006)
- "We Are Dreamers" on Cathy Claret's album Gypsy Flower (2007)
- "After Tonight" on Ava LeighAva LeighHayley Carline , better known as Ava Leigh, is a British reggae singer from Chester, England.-Career:Leigh's career first began when she started performing with her school's jazz band. In her "mid teens" she acquired a manager, and tried out for a variety of labels, singing R&B. However, Leigh...
's La La La (2007)
Albums and EPs
- Maverick A Strike - LP (1997)
- It Ain't Necessarily So - LP (1998)
- Vanguard - LP (2000)
- Much More Than Much Love - LP (2004)
- DiceDice (Finley Quaye)"Dice" is a single released by Finley Quaye. It was written with Beth Orton and recorded by William Orbit.-Single use:The single was used in the American Fox network TV series The OC in episode 14 of season one, entitled "The Countdown". The song was a minor hit, helped in part by its inclusion on ...
- EP (2004) - Oranges and Lemons - EP (2005)
- The Best Of The Epic Years 1995-2003 - LP (2008)
- Pound For Pound - LP (2008)
- Sound For Sound - LP (2008)
External links
- Finley Quaye – official US website
- Finlay Quaye Facebook – official facebook