Donn Finney

Birth and Schooling

Donn Ashley Finney was born October 4, 1948 in Orange Park, Florida to Louis and Hazel Finney. He graduated from Orange Park High school and then attended the University of Florida where he played football in 1964 with the position of a linebacker.

Career

Donn played many instruments but mostly played the tenor saxophone. He lived in Miami for a few years where he was hired to play sax in Sonny and Cher's band. During the mid 1960’s Capricorn Records discovered and then hired Donn to play saxophone with Wet Willie while scouting during a Sonny & Cher show. The group toured together for two to three years before they brke up during the 1980’s. Wet Willie rejoined with a few new members, none of which included Donn. He played with several big names during his career with Capricorn. Such bands included: Molly Hatchet, 38 Special, Lynyrd Skynyrd and several others. [http://www.lordisco.com/musicians/F5.html] Capricorn then hired him to go on a solo tour with Gregg Allman. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZdKvx1y-Tk] This was Donn’s big break. Gregg & Donn worked together and became good friends. Gregg lived with Donn for 6 months after Gregg's divorce with Cher. While on tour with Gregg in Alaska, he had a seizure and was flown to a hospital. A brain tumor was discoved, though it was thought not to be malignant he had to quit the tour and return to Macon for a while. After he became sick he toured in several countries with the Larry Howard Band. Throughout his whole career Donn toured, wrote and recorded with Rob Dame. [http://www.ioffer.com/i/Rob-Dame-1997-CD-Vintage-Jazz-Fusion-Stan-Porter-8344031]

Family

Donn married Lynn Murphree-Finney in 1989. The couple gave birth to their daughter, Gloria-Ruth Finney in 1990. Between the time they were married and their daughter's birth, doctors discovered his tumor was a Glioblastoma multiform. This type of tumor is malignant. He was given five years to live but died with in two years.

Death

He passed away on March 27, 1993 and is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon, Ga. Donn’s grave is on the tour of fame in the Rose Hill cemetery. In 1995, his wife, Lynn was notified that he had been inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. Donn’s daughter is collecting as many recordings, pictures, articles, or personal accounts as she can possibly find from talking with people involved in the music scene during that time period.