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Kent Finlay - President
Kent Finlay was born and raised right in the middle of Texas in the farm and ranch country of McCulloch County. The family's farm was always a busy place with plenty of work to do to keep everyone busy. Kent developed a passion for music early in life, and learned to play the family piano, and later guitar -- and started writing songs, as well, driving the farm tractor down those long West Texas rows plowing cotton. He graduated from Lohn High School in 1956, and entered college where he earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at Texas State University in San Marcos, and taught English a few years (in San Antonio and then, back in San Marcos).
His passion for music had grown stronger through the years, which led to forming a band and playing various venues as he continued to write songs. There was no music venue in San Marcos at the time, so in 1974, Kent with the help of his friend Jim Cunningham, opened the Cheatham Street Warehouse. The stated goals of the venue were much the same as they are today; the development, preservation, promotion, and perpetuation of Texas Music. Special emphasis has always been given to songwriting and songwriters.
Many outstanding Texas songwriters, musicians, and stars have come out of that beautiful old tin building with the incredible acoustics during the past 34 years. George Strait and his Ace in the Hole Band started their career at Cheatham Street on October 13, 1975 -- and they played there weekly for several years as George developed his style and all of those first fans. Then, there was Stevie Ray Vaughan who started playing every Tuesday in the early 80"s (while George was still a weekly feature) --and a very young Charlie Sexton would open for Stevie every week. What a time! But it was always a struggle, too. Young unknown bands do not draw a crowd. It takes time for them to develop their skills, and time to spread the word -- but developing young talent was (and is) a major part of the mission.
The list of major songwriters/artists who have come out of Cheatham Street Warehouse is a long one, for sure, and it includes (in addition to George, Charlie, and Stevie) James McMurtry, Hal Ketchum, Todd Snider, Terri Hendrix, John Arthur Martinez, Bruce Robison, Randy Rogers, and many more.
In addition to Kent's work at Cheatham Street, he continues to write songs and play songwriter shows, as well as teach Country Music History at Texas State. Also, Kent heads up Paper Napkin Music, a music publishing company, he is a partner in a recording studio, and he is president of the board of the Cheatham Street Music Foundation. Kent's three children are all involved in the music business as artists, songwriters, musicians, and/ or in record promotion. |
