The Unlikely Rise to Fame: Richard Finch Jr., Co-Founder of KC and the Sunshine Band

Richard Finch Jr., the co-founder, producer, and former bass guitar player of the iconic band KC and the Sunshine Band, has had a fascinating career trajectory that spans decades. Born on January 23, 1954, in Indianapolis, Indiana, Finch's life took an unexpected turn when his family moved to Hialeah, Florida, shortly after he was born.

Growing up in Hialeah, Finch developed a passion for music at an early age. He got his first electric bass guitar and began learning country music bass lines as a teenager. His musical tastes soon expanded to include soul and country music, with The Beatles being his favorite group. Tragedy struck when Finch was just five years old, losing his father unexpectedly. This left his mother to raise him and his four siblings alone.

Finch's early interest in audio recording techniques led him to work at an Opa Locka, Florida electronics and record store while still a teenager. It was during this time that he met Clarence Reid, a singer-songwriter from TK Records, who introduced him to the world of music production. Finch's high school attendance suffered as he spent every spare moment at TK Records, eventually dropping out of high school in his sophomore year.

Unbeknownst to his mother, Finch began working part-time as a recording engineer for TK Records, where he met Harry Wayne Casey, three years his senior. This chance encounter would change the course of Finch's life forever. The two became fast friends and went on to co-write the majority of the KC and the Sunshine Band music catalog, including five No. 1 hits.

Finch's experience working at TK Records and his natural talent for audio engineering led him to become a skilled producer and arranger in his own right. He joined several country bands before finding success with Ball & Chain, and eventually co-founding KC and the Sunshine Band with Harry Wayne Casey.

Throughout his career, Finch has been credited with producing some of the band's most iconic hits, including 'Get Down Tonight,' 'That's the Way (I Like It),' and 'Shake Your Booty.' His contributions to the music world have earned him a place in the Florida Music Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In conclusion, Richard Finch Jr.'s life is a testament to the power of perseverance and passion. From his humble beginnings as a teenager working at an electronics store to his rise to fame as a co-founder of KC and the Sunshine Band, Finch's story is one that inspires us all to chase our dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem.

Richard finch jr