Wikipedia

Finis Henderson III

Finis Henderson III is an American singer and comedian who had a hit with "Skip to My Lou" in 1983 which stayed in the charts for more than three months. He was also the lead singer of the group Weapons of Peace and co-wrote their hits "Just Can't Be That Way (Ruth's Song)" and "City.

Finis Henderson III
BornUnited States
GenresSoul, r&b, rock, pop
Occupation(s)Musician, comedian
Instrument(s)Voice, percussion
LabelsMotown
Formerly ofChicago Community Music Foundation, Weapons of Peace, Prophecy

Background

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Finis Henderson was a member of the Chicago Community Music Foundation. Henderson and some members of that ensemble would found the group Weapons of Peace,[1] which was formed in the early 1970s.[2] In 1983, he was exclusively signed to the Motown Records. His album that he recorded for the label was produced by Al McKay.[3]

His father Finis Henderson Jr was a promotor manager for Sammy Davis Jr., Redd Foxx, Brook Benton, Jerry Butler and the Dells.[4] His uncle is Bill Henderson a recording artist and actor.

As a comedian, Henderson was associated with Richard Pryor and gave material to him to use. He received an invite from Pryor to tour with him as a support act.[5] He made multiple appearances at the Comedy Connection in Boston in the early 1990s.[6]

Career

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1970s

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Weapons of Peace

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Henderson and Charles Frankin wrote the song "Just Can't Be That Way (Ruth's Song)" which was released in 1976.[7][8] The single was recorded by his band Weapons of Peace, and produced by Mark Davis, with Executive producer Hillery Johnson. It peaked at no. 64 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and stayed in the chart for a month.[9][10][11][12]

With Charles Franklin and Randy Hardy, Henderson wrote "City" which was recorded by Weapons of Peace. It was also a hit and made it to no. 78 in the US on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.[13][14]

1980s

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Henderson sang on the Bill Wolfer single "Call Me" which was released in 1982. It was reviewed in the 20 November issue of Cash Box. With the r&b / jazz edge noted, the similarity between Henderson's vocals and Michael McDonald's were also noted.[15] The comparison was also mentioned when Wolfer's album was reviewed by Paul Sexton of Record Mirror the following year.[16]

"Skip to My Lou" (single)

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Henderson's single "Skip to My Lou" was released on Motown 1669 MF. It was reviewed in the 7 May 1983 issue of Cash Box. With the single reviewed positively, the reviewer made references to a Romeo waking up a sleeping beauty and the record having a playful funk groove.[17]

On 27 August, and in its eleventh charting week, the single peaked at no. 33 on the Cash Box Top 100 Black Contemporary singles chart.[18][19]

The single peaked at no. 48 on the week of 23 July and spent a total of thirteen weeks in the Billboard chart.[20]

It was making the charts in the UK and on the week of 30 July, the single had moved up from no. 25 to no. 22 on the Record Mirror Disco chart.[21]

Fins (album)

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Henderson recorded his album Finis which was produced by Al McKay and released on Motown L6036ML. It was reviewed in the 16 July 1983 issue of Cash Box. The reviewer noted the MOR and adult contemporary potential.[22] On 30 July, with his hit "Skip to My Lou" at no. 47 and at its seventh week in the Cash Box Top 100 Black Contemporary Singles chart and moving upwards,[23] his album debuted at no. 62 in the Cash Box Black Contemporary Top 75 Albums chart.[24] At week six, on 3 September, the album peaked at no. 33 on the Cash Box Black Contemporary Top 75 Albums chart.[25][26]

Further activities

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It was reported by Jet in the magazine's 7 February 1983 issue that Henderson was off to Chile to pick up first prize for his song "The Message" that was co-written with Al McKay. The song was a winner at the Chile Music Festival.[27]

Later years

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In later years Finis Henderson has worked as a music impressionist covering Sammy Davis, Michael Jackson, Willie Nelson, Julio Iglesias. He also has opened for Smokey Robinson.[28]

Henderson was booked to appear at The Ice House in Pasadena from 7 to 10 January, 1994. In an article in the Sierra Madre News, it was noted that Henderson was once in an improv group with Andrew Dice Clay. It was pointed out that if the name of Clay was setting off alarms, there was nothing to worry about as Henderson's act was clean and didn't contain profanity.[29]

Further reading

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Discography

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Singles
Act Release Catalogue Year Notes
Bill Wolfer
featured vocal performance by
Finis Henderson 		"Call Me" / "Window on a Dream" Constellation 7-69891 1982 Henderson side 1 only[30]
Finis Henderson "Skip to My Lou" Motown 1669 MF 1983
Finis Henderson "Lovers" / "School Girl" Motown 1696 MF 1983 [31]


Album
Act Release Catalogue Year Notes
Finis Henderson Finis Motown 1983 [32]
Finis Henderson Finis Universal Japan 2019 CD<ref>Amazon - Finis

References

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  1. ^ Ebony, April 1993 - Page 82 Finis Henderson All In The Family By Aldore Collier
  2. ^ Chicago Soul, By Robert Pruter · 1992 - ISBN 9780252062599, 0252062590 - Page 342 Playboy Records
  3. ^ Cash Box, May 7, 1983 - Page 36 MOTOWN NABS HENDERSON
  4. ^ Jet, October 10, 1984 - Page 31 FITTING TRIBUTE
  5. ^ Oxford Reference - Henderson Finis
  6. ^ The Boston Phoenix, May 7–13, 1993: Vol 22 Iss 19 - Page 29
  7. ^ Cash Box, September 11, 1976 - Page 20 SINGLES REVIEWS, picks of the week, WEAPONS OF PEACE (Playboy P 6082) Just Can’t Be That Way
  8. ^ Catalogue of Copyright Entries, - Page 2397 EU689870, Ruth's song w & m Charles Franklin & Finis Henderson, Jr. 2p. © Charles Franklin; 25Jun76; EU689870.
  9. ^ Jazz Rock Soul, 31 Mar 2018 - Weapons of Peace, Members:
  10. ^ Oxford Reference - Henderson Finis
  11. ^ Billboard, October 30, 1976 - Page 66 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 10/30/76, This Week 68, NEW ENTRY
  12. ^ Records and Charts - Just Can't Be That Way (Ruth's Song)” by Weapons Of Peace 1976
  13. ^ Billboard, January 8, 1977 - Page 28 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 1/8/77, This Week 81, NEW ENTRY
  14. ^ MusicVF.com - City By Weapons of Peace
  15. ^ Cash Box, November 20, 1982 - Page 8 NEWS & REVIEWS continued from page 6, WOLF (Constellation 7-69891)
  16. ^ Record Mirror, February 19, 1983 - Page 16 ALBUMS BILL WOLFER 'Wolf' (Constellation 96.0187-1)
  17. ^ Cash Box, May 7, 1983 - Page 10 NEWS & REVIEWS, REVIEWS, SINGLES (continued from page 8), NEW AND DEVELOPING, FINIS HENDERSON (Motown 1669 MF) Skip To My Lou (4:07)
  18. ^ Cash Box, August 23, 1983 - Page 25 TOP 100 BLACK CONTEMPORARY SINGLES, August 27, 1983 33, 8/20 35, Weeks On Chart 11
  19. ^ Cash Box, September 3, 1983 - Page 25 TOP 100 BLACK CONTEMPORARY SINGLES, September 3, 1983 38, 8/27 33, Weeks On Chart 12
  20. ^ Records and Charts - Finis Henderson “Skip To My Lou”
  21. ^ Record Mirror, July 30, 1983 - Page 26 RECORD MIRROR DISCO, 22 25
  22. ^ Cash Box, July 16, 1983 - REVIEWS, ALBUMS Continued from page 6, BLACK CONTEMPORARY, FINIS
  23. ^ Cash Box, July 30, 1983 - Page 24 TOP 100 BLACK CONTEMPORARY SINGLES July 30, 1983 47, 7/23 51, weeks On Chart 7
  24. ^ Cash Box, July 30, 1983 - Page 23 BLACK CONTEMPORARY TOP 75 ALBUMS, 62, 7/23 _, Weeks On Chart 1
  25. ^ Cash Box, September 3, 1983 - Page 23 BLACK CONTEMPORARY TOP 75 ALBUMS, 33, 8/27 34, Weeks on Chart 6
  26. ^ Cash Box, September 10, 1983 - Page 27 BLACK CONTEMPORARY TOP 75 ALBUMS, 44, 9/3 33, Weeks On Chart 7
  27. ^ Jet, Feb. 7, 1983 - Page 55 New York to Hollywood
  28. ^ Soul Tracks - Fins Henderson
  29. ^ Sierra Madre News, Thursday December 31, 1998 - Page 6 A Touch Of Vegas Comes To Pasadena
  30. ^ 45Cat - Wolf (Bill Wolfer) Discography, USA, Call Me
  31. ^ 45Cat - Finis Henderson Discography, USA
  32. ^ Cash Box, July 16, 1983 - REVIEWS, ALBUMS Continued from page 6, BLACK CONTEMPORARY, FINIS
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