Finis Henderson
Finis Henderson III is an American soul singer and comedian born in Chicago to a family of entertainers. His father was a song-and-dance man and vice president of Sammy Davis Jr. Enterprises, while Sammy Davis Jr. served as his godfather. He began his career as lead singer of the group Weapons of Peace in the early 1970s.
Henderson was part of the Chicago Community Music Foundation before forming Weapons of Peace. The group scored modest R&B hits with "Just Can't Be That Way (Ruth's Song)" peaking at No. 64 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart in 1976 and "City" reaching No. 78. In the early 1980s, he moved to Los Angeles for a solo career, guided by his cousin Al McKay of Earth, Wind & Fire.
Signed to Motown by Suzanne de Passe in 1983, Henderson released his self-titled album Finis, produced by Al McKay with a song written by Stevie Wonder. The single "Skip to My Lou" became an R&B/funk hit, charting for over three months and gaining a cult following, especially in Japan; a remastered CD was reissued by Universal Music in 2013. He also featured on Bill Wolfer's "Call Me" in 1982 and won a prize at the Chile Music Festival for "The Message" co-written with McKay.
To support his music pursuits, Henderson performed impressions at clubs like The Laugh Factory, Comedy Store, Improvs, and Stardome, collaborating with Richard Pryor and Robin Williams. He opened for Pryor's Live on the Sunset Strip film, plus Rodney Dangerfield and others. In later years, he worked as a music impressionist covering artists like Sammy Davis Jr., Michael Jackson, and Smokey Robinson, performing into the 2010s at venues like Las Vegas' Red Rock Casino and Laugh Factory.
Finis
Written-By – F. Hamilton 5:00
A2 Making Love
Written-By – A. McKay, L. Starr 3:40
A3 Lovers
Written-By – D.P. Bryant, F. Henderson, G. Doty, T. Haynes 4:44
A4 You Owe It All To Love
Written-By – A. McKay, D.P. Bryant, T. Haynes 3:26
A5 Blame It On The Night
Written-By – R. Preston, S. Torano 3:47
B1.1 Percussion Intro 1:59
B1.2 Call Me
Written-By – B. Wolfer, F. Henderson 4:44
B2 Vina Del Mar
Written-By – A. McKay, E. Bulling 0:47
B3 Crush On You
Written-By – S. Wonder 4:03
B4 I'd Rather Be Gone
Written-By – D. Lambert, J.C. Crowley 3:40
B5 School Girl
Written-By – A. Hampton, A. McKay, F. Hamilton, G. Doty 5:19
Label: Motown – STML 12191
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1983
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Eighties Soul, Funk, Boogie
Finis Henderson's 1983 self-titled album, Finis, is a well-regarded 80s soul/R&B gem, praised for Henderson's powerful vocals and smooth, polished production (especially by EWF's Al McKay), featuring hits like "Skip To My Lou" and "Call Me", with tracks like "Lovers, Blame It On The Night" also highlighted as fan favorites, making it a hidden classic for soul/AOR fans despite not launching him into superstardom.
Henderson's incredible voice is a major highlight, with consistent praise for his talent.
The album features a slick, detailed 80s production, often compared to yacht rock due to its smooth grooves, with Al McKay's involvement noted.
"Skip To My Lou" and "Call Me" were big dance floor and radio successes, driving the album's appeal. Tracks like "Lovers, Blame It On The Night" and "I'd Rather Be Gone" are considered strong, underrated songs.
A sweet spot for 80s soul, R&B, and AOR (Adult Oriented Rock) enthusiasts, even if it wasn't a massive mainstream breakout.
Considered a classic by fans, showcasing great musicianship and detailed arrangements, a high point in Henderson's career.
The album delivers polished, sophisticated 80s soul with strong hooks, capturing a moment in time and highlighting Henderson as a vocalist who perhaps deserved more mainstream success.