Difference between revisions of "Dr Fink"

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|artist image              = [[File:Doctor-fink_bio.jpg]]
 
|artist image              = [[File:Doctor-fink_bio.jpg]]
 
|birth name                = Matthew Robert Fink
 
|birth name                = Matthew Robert Fink
−
|birth date                = 8 February, 1957, <br>Minneapolis, Minneasota, USA
+
|birth date                = 8 February 1957, <br>Minneapolis, Minneasota, USA
 
|activity                  = Keyboard player
 
|activity                  = Keyboard player
 
|endorsement(s)          =  
 
|endorsement(s)          =  
−
|activity w/prince        = 1979-1991
+
|activity w/prince        = 1978-1990
 
|previous bio              = [[Anna Fantastic]]
 
|previous bio              = [[Anna Fantastic]]
 
|next bio                  = [[Clare Fischer]]
 
|next bio                  = [[Clare Fischer]]
 
|introduction              =  
 
|introduction              =  
−
Matt Fink is a keyboard player with a big impact on the first part of [[Prince]]'s career. He was part of the first band [[Prince]] assembled for live performances and remained a key figure in the various configurations of [[Prince]]'s bands until December 1990 when he left [[Prince]]'s employ.
+
Matt Fink is a keyboard player with a big impact on the first part of [[Prince]]’s career. He was part of the first band [[Prince]] assembled for live performances and remained a key figure in the various configurations of [[Prince]]’s bands until December 1990 when he left [[Prince]]’s employ.
 
|early life                = Fink started playing piano at age 7. He studied classical piano and some jazz piano. His parents were into jazz, Latin pop and Broadway (show tunes). A Beatles fan, his mother played a lot of pop music around the house. Fink recalls enjoying "the British Invasion" music playing on the radio.  
 
|early life                = Fink started playing piano at age 7. He studied classical piano and some jazz piano. His parents were into jazz, Latin pop and Broadway (show tunes). A Beatles fan, his mother played a lot of pop music around the house. Fink recalls enjoying "the British Invasion" music playing on the radio.  
  
 
He was in his first band at age 12.
 
He was in his first band at age 12.
 
|before working w/prince  =  
 
|before working w/prince  =  
−
|work w/prince            = Dr. Fink was auditioned by [[Prince]] in November 1978 in Pepe Willie's basement, when he has assembling a band to do live performances. [[Prince]] already had a bassplayer, his childhood friend [[André Cymone|Andre Anderson]] and drummer [[Bobby Z.]] for his band.  
+
|work w/prince            = Dr. Fink was auditioned by [[Prince]] in November 1978 in Pepe Willie’s basement, when he has assembling a band to do live performances. [[Prince]] already had a bassplayer, his childhood friend [[André Cymone|Andre Anderson]] and drummer [[Bobby Z.]] for his band.  
  
 
After he put an ad out in Minneapolis newspaper 'City Pages' reading ''Warner Bros. Recording artist seeks guitarist and keyboard player'', guitarist [[Dez Dickerson]] and keyboard player [[Gayle Chapman]] were recruited. [[Prince]] however needed two keyboard players to be able to reproduced the thick layered sound of the [[Album: For You|For You]] album during live shows.  
 
After he put an ad out in Minneapolis newspaper 'City Pages' reading ''Warner Bros. Recording artist seeks guitarist and keyboard player'', guitarist [[Dez Dickerson]] and keyboard player [[Gayle Chapman]] were recruited. [[Prince]] however needed two keyboard players to be able to reproduced the thick layered sound of the [[Album: For You|For You]] album during live shows.  
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One of the players that auditioned was [[Jimmy Jam|James Harris]] who later ended up in [[The Time]], he was a good enough player, but to have an eclectic band (white and black, male and female) [[Prince]] preferred to have a white keyboard player, so the search went on. Therefor Matt Fink, an acquaintance of [[Bobby Z.]] was asked to audition, which landed him the job.  
 
One of the players that auditioned was [[Jimmy Jam|James Harris]] who later ended up in [[The Time]], he was a good enough player, but to have an eclectic band (white and black, male and female) [[Prince]] preferred to have a white keyboard player, so the search went on. Therefor Matt Fink, an acquaintance of [[Bobby Z.]] was asked to audition, which landed him the job.  
  
−
Matt became "Dr. Fink" during the [[Rick James "Fire It Up Tour"]] when [[Prince]] was the opening act. Wearing a jail outfit quite similar to one of Rick James outfit on "Bustin Out (On Funk)", [[Prince]] asked Fink to change his image and come up with ideas:<blockquote>''"In one video I wore a tacky looking paratrooper's jumpsuit. It was actually [[Prince]]'s, but didn't fit him. I had also worn a black-and-gold suit with tails a la "Elton John". He said: "nah...it's been done before". I was also looking at trying to do something in black leather, but there wasn't enough time to get that together...<br><br>Another idea was a guy in a doctor's suit. He perked up on that one. He said: "why don't try you try on a doctor's suit and you can become Dr. Fink". He sent his wardrobe person out in Chicago - we were on the road - who brought back a pair of scrubs, a stethoscope and a mask."''</blockquote>
+
Matt became "Dr. Fink" during the [[Rick James Tour ’80]] when [[Prince]] was the opening act. Wearing a jail outfit quite similar to one of Rick James outfit on "Bustin Out (On Funk)", [[Prince]] asked Fink to change his image and come up with ideas:<blockquote>''"In one video I wore a tacky looking paratrooper’s jumpsuit. It was actually [[Prince]]’s, but didn’t fit him. I had also worn a black-and-gold suit with tails a la "Elton John". He said: "nah...it’s been done before". I was also looking at trying to do something in black leather, but there wasn’t enough time to get that together...<br><br>Another idea was a guy in a doctor’s suit. He perked up on that one. He said: "why don’t try you try on a doctor’s suit and you can become Dr. Fink". He sent his wardrobe person out in Chicago - we were on the road - who brought back a pair of scrubs, a stethoscope and a mask."''</blockquote>
  
−
Fink left [[Prince]]'s band after signing a contract with another company to produce a record. He turned down his position as keyboard player for the Rock In Rio performances to avoid losing money by backing out his new contract. [[Prince]] then recruited Tommy Elm (renamed [[Tommy Barbarella]]) to fill in Fink's position. What was supposed to be a spot on replacement became permanent, as [[Prince]] kept Elm in the (new) [[The NPG|NPG band]] and didn't call Fink back. Fink recalls:<blockquote>''"In a way it was a combination of self-imposed leaving and being let go by [[Prince]]"''.</blockquote>
+
Fink left [[Prince]]’s band after signing a contract with another company to produce a record. He turned down his position as keyboard player for the Rock In Rio performances to avoid losing money by backing out his new contract. [[Prince]] then recruited Tommy Elm (renamed [[Tommy Barbarella]]) to fill in Fink’s position. What was supposed to be a spot on replacement became permanent, as [[Prince]] kept Elm in the (new) [[The NPG|NPG band]] and didn’t call Fink back. Fink recalls:<blockquote>''"In a way it was a combination of self-imposed leaving and being let go by [[Prince]]"''.</blockquote>
−
|after working w/prince    = Following his work with [[Prince]], Fink built his own studio facility StarVu in Savage, MN, USA and started working on different projects, from video game soundtracks, radio and TV commercials to voice over work. He worked for five years with Dominion Records (a subsidiary of K-Tel Records). Fink also released his own Sony Acid Loop Library entitled ''Dr. Fink's Funk Factory''.
+
|after working w/prince    = Following his work with [[Prince]], Fink built his own studio facility StarVu in Savage, MN, USA and started working on different projects, from video game soundtracks, radio and TV commercials to voice over work. He worked for five years with Dominion Records (a subsidiary of K-Tel Records). Fink also released his own Sony Acid Loop Library entitled ''Dr. Fink’s Funk Factory''.
  
 
Dr. Fink worked with Lexington Bridge feat. Snoop Dogg, Jimi Blue, Popstars On Stage Allstars and Lipps Inc.
 
Dr. Fink worked with Lexington Bridge feat. Snoop Dogg, Jimi Blue, Popstars On Stage Allstars and Lipps Inc.
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In early fall of 2010, Fink joined The Purple Experience tribute band rehearsals. Their first show took place in November 2011 at the Feather Falls Casino, Sacramento (CA). Fink and the band are still active in 2013 and play shows regularly.
 
In early fall of 2010, Fink joined The Purple Experience tribute band rehearsals. Their first show took place in November 2011 at the Feather Falls Casino, Sacramento (CA). Fink and the band are still active in 2013 and play shows regularly.
  
−
Fink still does production work at his recording facility StarVu Studios; he has worked with his son Maxwell Fink's band "Q the Clique".  
+
Fink still does production work at his recording facility StarVu Studios; he has worked with his son Maxwell Fink’s band "Q the Clique".  
  
−
On 9 March, 2013, he joined [[Bobby Z.]], [[Andre Cymone]] and [[Dez Dickerson]] at [[Bobby Z.]]'s annual benefit "Celebrate Life" concert held at First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN, USA.  
+
On 9 March 2013, he joined [[Bobby Z.]], [[Andre Cymone]] and [[Dez Dickerson]] at [[Bobby Z.]]’s annual benefit "Celebrate Life" concert held at First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN, USA.  
 
<!-- live section -->
 
<!-- live section -->
−
|first live appearance    = [[05 January, 1979|5 January, 1979: Minneapolis, MN, USA: Capri Theater]]
+
|first live appearance    = [[05 January 1979|5 January 1979: Minneapolis, MN, USA: Capri Theater]]
−
|performed regularly on    = [[Prince Tour]], [[Rick James "Fire It Up Tour"]], [[Dirty Mind Tour]], [[Controversy Tour]], [[1999 Tour]], [[Purple Rain Tour]], [[Parade Tour]], [[Sign O' The Times Tour]], [[Lovesexy Tour]], [[Nude Tour]]  
+
|performed regularly on    = [[Prince Tour]], [[Rick James Tour ’80]], [[Dirty Mind Tour]], [[Controversy Tour]], [[1999 Tour]], [[Purple Rain Tour]], [[Parade Tour]], [[Sign O’ The Times Tour]], [[Lovesexy Tour]], [[Nude Tour]]  
 
  |performed occasionally in = [[One_Off_Appearances#1979|1979]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1980|1980]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1981|1981]],[[One_Off_Appearances#1982|1982]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1983|1983]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1984|1984]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1985|1985]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1986|1986]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1987|1987]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1988|1988]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1989|1989]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1990|1990]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1991|1991]]
 
  |performed occasionally in = [[One_Off_Appearances#1979|1979]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1980|1980]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1981|1981]],[[One_Off_Appearances#1982|1982]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1983|1983]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1984|1984]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1985|1985]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1986|1986]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1987|1987]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1988|1988]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1989|1989]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1990|1990]], [[One_Off_Appearances#1991|1991]]
−
|records w/prince          = <small> list is incomplete, work in progress</small>, [[Album: Dirty Mind|Dirty Mind]], [[Album: Controversy|Controversy]], [[Album: 1999|1999]], [[Album: Purple Rain|Purple Rain]], [[Album: Around The World In A Day|Around The World In A Day]], Various Artist: [[Album: We Are The World|We Are The World]], [[Album: Parade|Parade]], [[Album: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]], [[Album: Lovesexy|Lovesexy]], [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]], [[Album: The Hits 2|The Hits 2]], [[Album: The Hits / The B-Sides| The Hits / The B-Sides]], [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]], [[Album: The Very Best Of Prince|The Very Best Of Prince]], [[Album: Ultimate|Ultimate]]
+
|records w/prince          = <small> list is incomplete, work in progress</small>, [[Album: Dirty Mind|Dirty Mind]], [[Album: Controversy|Controversy]], [[Album: 1999|1999]], [[Album: Purple Rain|Purple Rain]], [[Album: Around The World In A Day|Around The World In A Day]], Various Artist: [[Album: We Are The World|We Are The World]], [[Album: Parade|Parade]], [[Album: Sign O’ The Times|Sign O’ The Times]], [[Album: Lovesexy|Lovesexy]], [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]], [[Album: The Hits 2|The Hits 2]], [[Album: The Hits / The B-Sides| The Hits / The B-Sides]], [[Album: Crystal Ball|Crystal Ball]], [[Album: The Very Best Of Prince|The Very Best Of Prince]], [[Album: Ultimate|Ultimate]]
 
|records w/associates      = [[The Time]]: [[Album: The Time|The Time]], [[Madhouse]]: [[Album: 8|8]], [[Jill Jones]]: [[Album: Jill Jones|Jill Jones]], [[Madhouse]]: [[Album: 16|16]], Mavis Staples: [[Album: Time Waits For No One|Time Waits For No One]], Mavis Staples: [[Album: The Voice|The Voice]], [[94 East]]: [[Album: The Cookhouse Five]] (remixing the 2011 edition)
 
|records w/associates      = [[The Time]]: [[Album: The Time|The Time]], [[Madhouse]]: [[Album: 8|8]], [[Jill Jones]]: [[Album: Jill Jones|Jill Jones]], [[Madhouse]]: [[Album: 16|16]], Mavis Staples: [[Album: Time Waits For No One|Time Waits For No One]], Mavis Staples: [[Album: The Voice|The Voice]], [[94 East]]: [[Album: The Cookhouse Five]] (remixing the 2011 edition)
 
|self productions          = None.
 
|self productions          = None.

Latest revision as of 16:32, 2 September 2020

Anna Fantastic ◄ All Biographies Prince Biography ► Clare Fischer
Dr. Fink
Doctor-fink bio.jpg

Artist details

Birth Name: Matthew Robert Fink
Date Of Birth: 8 February 1957,
Minneapolis, Minneasota, USA
Occupation: Keyboard player
Endorsement(s):
Activity with Prince: 1978-1990
Live Performances
First live appearance w/Prince:
Performed regularly on tour:
Performed occasionally in shows:
Discography
With Prince:
With Prince’s Associates:
Self Productions with Prince:
  • None.

Matt Fink is a keyboard player with a big impact on the first part of Prince’s career. He was part of the first band Prince assembled for live performances and remained a key figure in the various configurations of Prince’s bands until December 1990 when he left Prince’s employ.


Musical Career
Early Life

Fink started playing piano at age 7. He studied classical piano and some jazz piano. His parents were into jazz, Latin pop and Broadway (show tunes). A Beatles fan, his mother played a lot of pop music around the house. Fink recalls enjoying "the British Invasion" music playing on the radio.

He was in his first band at age 12.

Early Musical Career
Work With Prince

Dr. Fink was auditioned by Prince in November 1978 in Pepe Willie’s basement, when he has assembling a band to do live performances. Prince already had a bassplayer, his childhood friend Andre Anderson and drummer Bobby Z. for his band.

After he put an ad out in Minneapolis newspaper 'City Pages' reading Warner Bros. Recording artist seeks guitarist and keyboard player, guitarist Dez Dickerson and keyboard player Gayle Chapman were recruited. Prince however needed two keyboard players to be able to reproduced the thick layered sound of the For You album during live shows.

One of the players that auditioned was James Harris who later ended up in The Time, he was a good enough player, but to have an eclectic band (white and black, male and female) Prince preferred to have a white keyboard player, so the search went on. Therefor Matt Fink, an acquaintance of Bobby Z. was asked to audition, which landed him the job.

Matt became "Dr. Fink" during the Rick James Tour ’80 when Prince was the opening act. Wearing a jail outfit quite similar to one of Rick James outfit on "Bustin Out (On Funk)", Prince asked Fink to change his image and come up with ideas:
"In one video I wore a tacky looking paratrooper’s jumpsuit. It was actually Prince’s, but didn’t fit him. I had also worn a black-and-gold suit with tails a la "Elton John". He said: "nah...it’s been done before". I was also looking at trying to do something in black leather, but there wasn’t enough time to get that together...

Another idea was a guy in a doctor’s suit. He perked up on that one. He said: "why don’t try you try on a doctor’s suit and you can become Dr. Fink". He sent his wardrobe person out in Chicago - we were on the road - who brought back a pair of scrubs, a stethoscope and a mask."
Fink left Prince’s band after signing a contract with another company to produce a record. He turned down his position as keyboard player for the Rock In Rio performances to avoid losing money by backing out his new contract. Prince then recruited Tommy Elm (renamed Tommy Barbarella) to fill in Fink’s position. What was supposed to be a spot on replacement became permanent, as Prince kept Elm in the (new) NPG band and didn’t call Fink back. Fink recalls:
"In a way it was a combination of self-imposed leaving and being let go by Prince".
After Working With Prince

Following his work with Prince, Fink built his own studio facility StarVu in Savage, MN, USA and started working on different projects, from video game soundtracks, radio and TV commercials to voice over work. He worked for five years with Dominion Records (a subsidiary of K-Tel Records). Fink also released his own Sony Acid Loop Library entitled Dr. Fink’s Funk Factory.

Dr. Fink worked with Lexington Bridge feat. Snoop Dogg, Jimi Blue, Popstars On Stage Allstars and Lipps Inc.

In 2001 he released an album called Ultrasound.

In June 2007, Doctor Fink signed an exclusive management deal for the European market with German-based management and production-company Mozart & Friends.

Current Work

In early fall of 2010, Fink joined The Purple Experience tribute band rehearsals. Their first show took place in November 2011 at the Feather Falls Casino, Sacramento (CA). Fink and the band are still active in 2013 and play shows regularly.

Fink still does production work at his recording facility StarVu Studios; he has worked with his son Maxwell Fink’s band "Q the Clique".

On 9 March 2013, he joined Bobby Z., Andre Cymone and Dez Dickerson at Bobby Z.’s annual benefit "Celebrate Life" concert held at First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN, USA.

 
Additional Information
See also Trivia
References
◄ Anna Fantastic All Biographies Prince Biography Clare Fischer ►
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