Live Rock, Motown, Jazz and Blues entertainment for your club, party or corporate event. With an attitude for fun, The Fins have been keeping clients happy and audiences partying since 1987!

So if you want the best, most fun, dancing-est (Is that really a word?) time around, come check us out!

Dennis Taylor – Lead Vocals / Acoustic Guitar
When he was a young’un, Dennis’s parents raised him on a steady diet of old time Gospel and C & W (Country and Western). After a stint in the Air Force (ours), he started singing and playing guitar in 1972 in a group called “Giving Room”, playing at Pappa’s Pizza Parlor on Northwest Hwy. In between orders for “pizza #42” he met Art Hoffman (bass). They eventually helped form T.T. Taylor and the Rice Paddy Raiders. They began playing at the Annex Club in Dallas and packed them in for months! Dennis and T.T. Taylor member Mike Cheakas (now with our buddies Sabine) eventually formed “Boot Hill” during the mid ’70s “progressive country” era. They played at the “Greenville Avenue General Store”. He joined THE FINS in the late ’80s and we just can’t seem to shake him.

Patti Wilson – Lead Vocals / Percussion / Trombone(?)
Her background check complete and just thirty days to go before her Fins insurance benefits kick in, Patti shows solid vocal promise. Her twenty year background includes live performance, studio work, songwriting/arranging, and an eye-opening, two year stint in Music City exploring the potential of a major label recording deal, pursued under the “guidance” of what could best be described as a self-medicating, “Oh, you think this studio is nice? Well I’d like to show you my “home” studio…How’s Friday night sound?”-record producer type. On vocal style, we’ll borrow from the hit variety show “Donny and Marie”: “She’s a little bit country… She’s a little bit rock-n-roll… She’s a little bit Memphis and jazz-ville (don’t knock it…it rhymes)… But with a whole lotta’ love for Blues and Soul… She don’t know if that’s good or bad, but she sho’ loves it so… I am stuck on Band-aids ’cause Band-aids stuck on me!”

Lou Tielli – Guitar / Vocals
Lou began playing guitar at age 13 (he tells us that was just a FEW years ago-ahem!). In the 1970’s, Lou’s first real band, Titus Oates, toured regionally for several years, and pressed an album to shop to major record labels. The record deal never materialized, but the album found its way later onto collector’s lists, and original pressings and bootleg CD and vinyl copies are now sold on ebay¨ and elsewhere! In the mid-1980’s, a relocation took him to St. Louis, after which he returned to DFW to play in the G-Men in the early 1990’s. You may have seen him the past several years with Big Smoo and the Trailer Park Kings, a Ft. Worth blues-rock band. An eclectic mix of players such as Duane Allman, Robin Trower, Billy Gibbons, Ritchie Blackmore and Terry Kath influenced him. Lou and his wife Nancy live in Burleson and spend what little spare time they have riding their Harleys.

David Lovrien – Saxophone / Vocals / Percussion
So there I was – stranded in the Yukon – with nothing but a rusty spoon and the dead moose carcass at my feet to sustain me. As I pondered my precarious predicament, I thought back to what my Uncle Phineas had told me all those years ago: “Reginald,” he said – though my name was certainly not Reginald – “Reginald,” he said, his gaze locked on me with his steely gray eye, “you must always remember, and never forget…” David plays sax and tambourine and stuff, and even sings sometimes when he’s sure he won’t be heard. When he’s not rockin’ with THE FINS, he can be found playing with the Dallas Wind Symphony and also Gallus, a traditional Irish band.

Jimbo Lancaster – Keyboards
Music has always been a part of Jim’s life – from piano lessons as a kid, through marching band in high school and college (where he was a decidedly ho-hum tenor sax player), to playing various keyboards ever since. Jim’s first electric keyboard was a Fender Rhodes, which he used to play in a variety of rock and blues bands in Lafayette, Louisiana in the mid-to-late seventies. The South Louisiana rhythms of bands like the Neville Brothers, and Dr. John (Mac Rebennack), and Professor Longhair were early influences. Other influences include the jazz-funk stylings of Joe Sample (Crusaders), the southern rock of Chuck Leavell (Allman Brothers, Rolling Stones), and the incredible Bill Payne (Little Feat). After graduating from LSU and moving to Dallas in 1983, Jim played in a number of bands that never made it out of the garage before becoming a founding member of THE FINS in 1987. Jim also plays in the band Revival.

Art Hoffman – Bass / Vocals
Art’s been playing bass since 1970. First song ever recorded in a studio? Wilson Pickett’s “Funky Broadway” (only after playing bass for 1 month – now that was easy!). He once played in a 16 piece band that only had two gigs. But as a result he had a new found appreciation for Soul, Motown and R & B music. His influences? The late, great James Jamerson (who’s that you say? – go out and rent a copy of “Standing in the Shadows of Motown” and you’ll find out!), Paul McCartney (of course), and Yes’ Chris Squire. He was a founding member of Dallas’ Southern Cross in 1971 and has played on and off with Dennis Taylor since 1972. Art can play a little bit of everything – from country to alt-rock. Recently, he’s recorded several CD’s with various local singer/songwriters. One, David Shehane has just released his debut CD “One Way Ride”. David Lovrien (saxophone) also helps out on tin whistle! Usually his solos are “so low” you never hear them. Meaning he prefers to keep the groove going and hold down the bottom end. And much to his wife’s disdain he still owns every bass he’s ever bought!

“Uncle” Mark Kessel – Drums
Mark has been playing drums since he was 12. He started playing professionally in Austin bands in 1969 at the legendary Vulcan Gas Company and later at the Armadillo World Headquarters. Sitting in at clubs in Austin gave him the opportunity to play with musicians such as Stevie Ray Vaughn and John Lee Hooker. His drummer inspirations are straight ahead ” in the groove” drummers such as Charlie Watts , Doyle Bramhall, Ringo Starr , Al Jackson ( Al Green) etc. Mark still plays his vintage 1969 Ludwig Maple kit not only because he loves it but because he can’t afford a new set of DW’s!

Song List

Rock/Pop
BACK IN THE U.S.S.R. – Beatles
BLUE MONEY – Van Morrison
BREAKDOWN – Tom Petty
BROWN EYED GIRL – Van Morrison
CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF IT – Steve Winwood
COLD SHOT – Stevie Ray Vaughan
DOMINO – Van Morrison
FEELIN’ ALLRIGHT – Dave Mason
FIRE – Jimi Hendrix
GAME OF LOVE – Mindbenders
GIMME SHELTER – Rolling Stones
GIMME SOME LOVIN’ – Spencer Davis
GIVIN’ IT UP FOR YOUR LOVE – Delbert McClinton
GLAD – Traffic
GLORIA – Them
GOOD LOVIN’ – Rascals
GREAT BALLS OF FIRE – Jerry Lee Lewis
HANG ON SLOOPY – McCoys
HANKY PANKY – Tommy James
HONKY-TONK WOMEN – Rolling Stones
I CAN’T MAKE YOU LOVE ME – Bonnie Raitt
I FOUGHT THE LAW – Bobby Fuller Four
I GOT A LINE ON YOU – Spirit
INTO THE MYSTIC – Van Morrison
I SAW HER STANDING THERE – Beatles
JESSICA – Allman Brothers
JOHNNY B. GOODE – Chuck Berry
THE LETTER – Joe Cocker
LITTLE SISTER – Elvis Presley
LITTLE WING – Jimi Hendrix
LOUIE, LOUIE – Kingsmen
LOVE LETTER – Bonnie Raitt
LOW RIDER – War
MARGARITAVILLE – Jimmy Buffett
MAYBE – Chantals
MELISSA – Allman Brothers
MOONDANCE – Van Morrison
MOVE WITH ME – Tim Buckley
RAVE ON – Buddy Holly
RED HOUSE – Jimi Hendrix
ROUTE 66 – Asleep at the Wheel
RUNNING DOWN A DREAM – Tom Petty
SHAKY GROUND – Delbert McClinton
SPLISH SPLASH – Bobby Darin
SUNSHINE SUPERMAN – Donovan
TEQUILA – The Champs
THING CALLED LOVE – Bonnie Raitt
THINKING ABOUT YOU – Nora Jones
TO LOVE SOMEBODY (with Helium – no kidding!) – The Bee Gees
TWIST AND SHOUT – Isley Brothers
UNDER MY THUMB – Rolling Stones
WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN’ GOING ON – Jerry Lee Lewis
WILD NIGHTS – Van Morrison
WILD THING – Troggs
WONDERFUL TONIGHT – Eric Clapton
WOOLY BULLY – Sam The Sham
YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR HAT ON – Joe Cocker
YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT – Rolling Stones

Soul/Motown
AT LAST – Etta James
BABY I LOVE YOU – Aretha Franklin
CHAIN OF FOOLS – Aretha Franklin
DOCK OF THE BAY – Otis Redding
GREEN ONIONS – Booker T. & The MG’s
HEATWAVE – Martha & The Vandellas
I FEEL GOOD – James Brown
I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE – Marvin Gaye
I WISH – Stevie Wonder
IN THE MIDNITE HOUR – Wilson Pickett
IT’S RAINING – Irma Thomas/Lou Ann Barton
KISS – Prince
KNOCK ON WOOD – Wilson Pickett
LET’S GET IT ON – Marvin Gaye
MUSTANG SALLY – Wilson Pickett
MY GIRL – The Temptations
NIGHT TRAIN – King Curtis
PEOPLE GET READY – Curtis Mayfield
RESCUE ME – Fontella Bass
RESPECT – Aretha Franklin
SAVE ME – Aretha Franklin
TAKE ME TO THE RIVER – Al Green
TELL MAMA – Etta James
THAT’S HOW STRONG MY LOVE IS – Otis Redding
UNDER THE BOARDWALK – The Drifters
USE ME – Bill Withers
WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN – Percy Sledge/Richard Elliott
YOU LEFT THE WATER RUNNING – Otis Redding

Jazz
CHAMELEON – Herbie Hancock
GIRL FROM IPANEMA – Stan Getz / AC Jobim
PUT IT WHERE YOU WANT IT – The Crusaders
THEMBE – Pharaoh Sanders

Latin
EVIL WAYS – Santana
OYE COMO VA – Santana

Naw’lins
CISSY STRUT – The Meters
IKO IKO – Dixie Cups
JAMBALAYA – Hank Williams
RIGHT PLACE, WRONG TIME – Dr. John
TELL IT LIKE IT IS – Aaron Neville
WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN – Traditional
ZAZZRIGHT – Jimbo Lancaster

Rhythm N’ Blues
BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN – Willie Dixon
BAD IS BAD – Huey Lewis & The News
CHICKEN SHACK – Jimmy Smith
GOOD ROCKIN’ DADDY – Etta James
HIDEAWAY – Freddie King
JUST WANT A LITTLE BIT – No Idea!
STICKIN’ – Steve Earl
STORMY MONDAY – T-Bone Walker
SWEET HOME CHICAGO – T-Bone Walker
THRILL IS GONE – B.B. King
YOU’LL LOSE A GOOD THING – Barbara Lynn

Country (and Western)
CRAZY – Patsy Cline
GREEN ACRES (YES, GREEN ACRES!)
OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE – Merle Haggard
SILVER WINGS – Merle Haggard

Reggae
I SHOT THE SHERIFF – Wailers/Eric Clapton
TV Theme Songs!
GREEN ACRES – Arnold (That Hot Little Pig!)
MY THREE SONS – Fred MacMurray