Finley Quaye

Finley Quaye is the son of jazz musician, Cab Kaye, and the brother of noted guitarist, Caleb Quaye.

Finley went to school in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. He left school with no qualifications.

He made a solo record deal with Polydor Records. He began working with Epic/Sony when Polydor let him out of contract.

He reached the UK Top 20 twice with "Sunday Shining", and "Even After All". His reputation established by Maverick A Strike, an adventurous but accessible album 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. Two more albums were released on Epic, Vanguard and Much More Than Much Love. In 2004 the song "Dice", in collaboration with William Orbit, and featuring Beth Orton was a minor hit, helped in part by its inclusion on The O.C. soundtrack. Quaye currently living in London, had also lived and worked in Berlin between 2004 and early 2007.

He is currently signed to Sakifo Records based in Reunion Island.

The band have supported James Brown, Ken Boothe, Lee Scratch Perry, Luciano, The UK Subs, Paul Weller, Madness, Ian Dury & The Blockheads, The Verve, Ben Harper, Fun Loving Criminals, Robbie Williams & The Stereo MCs. Finley has recorded with Caleb Quaye, with A Guy Called Gerald, The Stereo Mcs, Campag Velocet, Dizzy Q Viper, Cathy Claret, Marlon Roudette, Marlon Bois, Beth Orton, William Orbit, Ernest Ranglin, Monty Alexander, Iggy Pop, Tricky, Primal Scream, Prince Hammer, Sly Dunbar and Buju Banton.

Maverick A Strike exploded onto the world scene in 1997 and signalled the arrival of a tremendous talent. Written and produced by the then 23 year old, it could never have been more aptly titled, because the man is indeed a musical maverick. The albums that followed his initial introduction, Vanguard and Much More Than Much Love, have been incredible in their breadth of influence; with a melange of lovers’ and roots reggae, jazz, and rock.

Meanwhile that wonderfully unique voice has remained a soothing constant over some superb musical arrangements. Refusing to play the game, he ploughs his own furrow and those who become fellow travellers have been richly rewarded. Listen to Sunday Shining, The Emperor, Your Love Gets Sweeter, Feeling Blue, Dice, Sweet and Loving Man and Overcome, then imagine what else he might have up his sleeve. Unfortunately the industry doesn’t much care for those with a mind of their own; and whilst Finley has continued to be prolific, sitting as he does on a mountain of exquisite but unreleased songs, the shallow world of pop has become more enamoured with the X Factor instant hit and instant cash reward, than true talent.

Thankfully this looks set to change with the promise of Finley’s genius once more finding itself promoted in the manner it deserves.