BIOGRAPHY

Pianist Leo J. Finn was born, the youngest of four children, to Katherine and Leo P. Finn on January 5, 1960. Growing up in Old Chatham, NY, Leo was surrounded with music from the start. His mother sang and played the piano in the home. His father, a former disk jockey and amateur pianist, also played and composed there. His brother Joe (www.joefinn.net), an accomplished guitarist, teacher and singer, was developing as a music major in college while Leo, a jr. high school student, was leading his own groups, and working in local dance bands. He took piano lessons privately and studied arranging and music theory with his brother. He arranged and performed original compositions with his high school stage band and continued to play club dates throughout the northeast until his early graduation from Chatham Central High School in 1978.
Leo immediately began what became a five-year tour with THE McCoy’s (Hang On Sloopy), and played his first arenas with SLIM WHITMAN, and HAROLD BRADLEY (Vice-President of the American Federation of Musicians And President of local # 257(Nashville) of the A. F. of M.). The “show band” settled where the work was, in LAS VEGAS. They became a mainstay there for over 10 years, at a time when the “Rat Pack” performed actively. RENO and LAKE TAHOE became their only travel stops. Leo gained invaluable experience as a bandleader, entertainer, and musician.

NASHVILLE became home in 1993, and Leo has been credited with touring and/or recording with the following artists:

T. GRAHAM BROWN JEFF CARSON VERN GOSDIN JIMMY HALL SAM MOORE LEANN RIMES BILLY JOE ROYAL BJ THOMAS
Leo has also on occasion played with:
MARCIA BALL CHARLIE CALLAS LARRY CARLTON STEVE CROPPER BILLY RAY CYRUS JANIE FRICKIE CRYSTAL GAYLE VINCE GILL GEORGE JONES	SHELBY LYNN MICHAEL MCDONALD LEE ROY PARNELL JEANNIE SEELEY BILLY JOE SHAVER JO-EL SONNIER TANYA TUCKER TONY JOE WHITE

INSTRUMENTS:
Piano, Organ, Synthesizers & Vocals.

SKILLS:
Performance, Arranging, Composition, and Instruction

RADIO, TELEVISION:
Leo has appeared many times on live and “live to tape” Radio and Internet broadcasts with recording artists. He has appeared as a sideman on CNN NEWS, and frequently on the TNN and CMT shows: CROOK AND CHASE, THE GRAND OLE OPRY, MUSIC CITY TONIGHT, PRIME TIME COUNTRY and TALK OF THE TOWN.

RECORDING:
Among his many studio demos, Leo recorded " LIVES " for T. Graham Brown and THE MIGHTY RACK OF SPAM, and his first release: "COCKTAIL JAZZ", a collection of standards for solo piano, are available at www.leojohnfinn.com

CURRENTLY:
Leo is touring with BJ Thomas as his keyboardist and bandleader, and also with "Raindrops & Boondocks", a special event show that features both BJ Thomas and Billy Joe Royal. Leo continues to freelance and play solo piano in and around Nashville. For his entire schedule please go to: www.leojohnfinn.com. Leo is also working on a CD of original music set for release in 2008.