Difference between revisions of "Dr Fink"
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|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]] | + | 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 | + | |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 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 | + | 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]] | + | 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. | + | |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 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.]] | + | 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 Tour '80]], [[Dirty Mind Tour]], [[Controversy Tour]], [[1999 Tour]], [[Purple Rain Tour]], [[Parade Tour]], [[Sign | + | |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 | + | |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. |
Revision as of 10:59, 2 September 2020
Anna Fantastic ◄ | All Biographies | Prince Biography | ► Clare Fischer |
Dr. Fink |
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