Bob Finney came from a musical family. Once a week he, his two brothers, and his parents got together in their Cranford, New Jersey home for "orchestra time." His mother, a piano teacher, insisted that her sons receive formal music lessons, and their weekly gathering allowed her to judge how much practicing they had done.
In high school Bob was part of a Dixieland jazz group. Also, he would sneak out to Eddie Condon's club in New York's Greenwich Village for the open jam sessions. He played his tenor sax with trombonists Jack Teagarten and Miff Mole, trumpeter Red Allen, and drummer Cozy Cole. Once clarinetist Peanuts Huckow leaned over to the eager young man and said, "Hey kid, try this lick." These sessions sweetened Bob's improvisation skills.
Later in college, Bob worked as a sideman for touring big bands: Ray McKinley, Ralph Marterie, and Woody Herman's "3rd Herd." Now, he leads his own band playing the tenor sax and the clarinet. Also, he's added singing and scatting to his performances, but he admits that "Scarlett is the real singer!"
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