Fingers Inc.
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Fingers Inc.
| caption =
| background = group_or_band
| origin = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|Chicago house|deep house{{cite web|url=https://www.electronicbeats.net/larry-heard-and-fingers-inc-on-the-story-of-a-house-classic/|title=Larry Heard and Fingers Inc. on the Story of a House Classic|work=Electronic Beats|first=Brendan|last=Gillen|date=September 17, 2015|access-date=July 11, 2020}}}}
| years_active = 1985–1988
| label = {{hlist|Jack Trax|Select|D.J. International|Underground|Alleviated}}
| associated_acts =
| current_members =
| past_members = * Larry Heard
- Robert Owens
- Ron Wilson
}}
Fingers Inc. was an American music group hailing from Chicago, Illinois, comprising the producer Larry Heard and vocalists Robert Owens and [https://www.discogs.com/artist/27870-Ron-Wilson Ron Wilson]. Renowned for their pioneering deep house records, they emerged in the mid-1980s, notably with the release of the 1988 album 'Another Side' and hit singles like "Mystery Of Love" and the iconic "Can You Feel It?". AllMusic called it the "top early Chicago house group".{{cite web |last=Bush |first=John |title=Fingers Inc. - Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/fingers-inc-mn0000183406/biography |access-date=July 11, 2020 |work=AllMusic}}
History
Fingers Inc.'s history mirrors the low-profile approach of its creator, Larry Heard.{{Cite web |last=Needs |first=Kris |date=29 February 1992 |title=Larry Heard: House Music's Most Mysterious Pioneer. Black Echoes. Larry Heard aka Mr. Fingers. |url=http://www.rocksbackpages.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/Library/Article/larry-heard-house-musics-most-mysterious-pioneer// |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=http://www.rocksbackpages.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/Library/Article/larry-heard-house-musics-most-mysterious-pioneer |archive-date=7 December 2023 |access-date=7 December 2023 |website=Rock's Backpages |publisher=Rock's Backpages}} In 1992, Kris Needs wrote an article titled [https://www-rocksbackpages-com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/Library/Article/larry-heard-house-musics-most-mysterious-pioneer "Larry Heard: House Music's Most Mysterious Pioneer"] for Rock's Backpages, emphasizing Larry's status as one of the most enigmatic among the original house music pioneers. Despite a few interviews and critics' analyses, Fingers Inc.'s history exudes a mysterious vibe, a curious quality given the significant and enduring impact of their songs.
Fingers Inc. and Larry Heard, also known as Mr. Fingers, sometimes share an identity. The group originated in Chicago, Illinois, in 1985,{{Cite web |title=Fingers Inc. Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/fingers-inc-mn0000183406 |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=AllMusic |language=en}} initially formed by Larry Heard and Robert Owens, later officially completing its lineup with [https://www.discogs.com/artist/27870-Ron-Wilson Ron Wilson's] inclusion. The overlap occurred because Larry released some songs under the Fingers Inc. moniker, although he was the sole member working on those tracks. John Bush from [https://www.allmusic.com/artist/fingers-inc-mn0000183406#biography AllMusic] used to say that at their best they rivaled Ten City with expressive club hits.
While Owens primarily contributed as a vocalist to Fingers Inc., he also collaborated in producing and writing some tracks, fostering a strong bond with Larry. Kris Needs described Owens as someone who "exudes the larger-than-life charisma of the house diva" and Larry as "a shy, gentle man with an easy laugh," providing insight into their close relationship. Larry stated, "I suppose Robert (Owens) has been one of the most consistent and reliable I've met, and that's why we've worked together for so long{{Cite web |last=Lorez |first=Jeff |date=25 February 1992 |title=Larry Heard: Heard Instinct. |url=https://www-rocksbackpages-com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/Library/Article/larry-heard-heard-instinct |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=http://www.rocksbackpages.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/Library/Article/larry-heard-heard-instinct |archive-date=25 February 1992 |access-date=7 December 2023 |website=Rock's Backpages}}".
Ron Wilson, who joined the group as a vocalist, played an essential role in Fingers Inc., leading vocals alongside Owens and contributing to the conceptualization of the sleeve cover for their only studio album, '[https://www.discogs.com/master/5370-Fingers-Inc-Another-Side Another Side],' released in 1988.{{cite web |last=Beta |first=Andy |date=January 12, 2016 |title=Fingers Inc.: Another Side |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21391-fingers-inc-another-side/ |access-date=July 11, 2020 |work=Pitchfork}}
In a 2016 [https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2016/09/16/494184448/classic-dose-larry-heard NPR interview titled "Classic Dose: Larry Heard,"] Larry mentioned that a second Fingers Inc. album never materialized, partly due to Owens relocating to New York City. He shared, "For every song you heard from me and Robert, there's another 5-10 more that didn't get released." Larry expressed his intention to release this intriguing unreleased material through his label, [https://www.discogs.com/label/1488-Alleviated-Records Alleviated Records].{{cite web |last=Beta |first=Andy |date=September 16, 2016 |title=Classic Dose: Larry Heard |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2016/09/16/494184448/classic-dose-larry-heard |access-date=July 11, 2020 |work=NPR}} An example of this is the track with Ron called "Chains," which was released in 2021 under Larry Heard's name and not as part of Fingers Inc.
'Another Side' ended up being considered among music critics as one of house music's greatest full-length albums of all time,{{Cite web |title=Fingers Inc.: Another Side |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21391-fingers-inc-another-side/ |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} often referred to as the gold standard of house LPs. This remarkable album and collaboration also marked the end of the group as they decided to continue their journey as solo artists.
Both [https://www.discogs.com/artist/148-Larry-Heard Larry] and [https://www.discogs.com/artist/2187-Robert-Owens Robert] are still alive and active. Robert ([https://www.instagram.com/this_is_robert_owens/ Instagram], [https://bandcamp.com/tag/robert-owens Bandcamp], [https://soundcloud.com/robert-owens-official SoundCloud]) continues his career as a producer and DJ. In 2023 he collaborated on an album titled "[https://music.amazon.in/albums/B0CLVJHPZL The Wave]" with Axe Syndicate. Larry ([https://www.instagram.com/heard_larry/ Instagram], [https://soundcloud.com/mr-fingers-official SoundCloud]) on the other hand, maintains a mysterious, low-profile presence but remains involved in relevant work. He contributed to projects like Dua Lipa's Club Future Nostalgia remix album and in 2023 released his album titled "[https://www.discogs.com/master/3123855-Mr-Fingers-Around-The-Sun-Pt2 Around the Sun Pt.12]" under the moniker Mr. Fingers. [https://www.discogs.com/artist/27870-Ron-Wilson Ron Wilson's] life post-1990 is quite unknown. Despite being the son of [https://www.discogs.com/artist/1554489 Paul Wilson], a renowned baritone singer and original member of The Flamingos, and [https://www.discogs.com/release/35861-Ron-Wilson-Prove-It-To-Me releasing a single - Prove it to me] - produced by Larry under Alleviated Records in 1990, there is no official information, articles, interviews, or even social media available about his whereabouts. Curiously, his name has become entangled on Spotify and Apple Music with another Ron Wilson, a producer and DJ based in Berlin. Although both profiles share the same name, a more thorough investigation reveals that the new releases displayed on these platforms do not belong to Ron Wilson from Fingers Inc., but rather to the Ron Wilson based in Berlin. The older releases, however, can be attributed to Alleviated Records, unmistakably representing Ron Wilson from Fingers Inc.
Discography
=Studio albums=
- 1988 – Another Side (Label: [https://www.discogs.com/label/622-Jack-Trax Jack Trax] - 2017 [https://www.discogs.com/label/1488-Alleviated-Records Alleviated Records])
=Singles=
- 1985 – Bring Down the Walls (Label: [https://www.discogs.com/label/1488-Alleviated-Records Alleviated Records], [https://www.discogs.com/label/160537-Select-Records-4 Select Records])
- 1986 – A Path (Label: [https://www.discogs.com/label/688-DJ-International-Records D.J. International Records])
- 1986 – It's Over (Label: [https://www.discogs.com/label/706-Underground Underground)]
- 1986 – Mystery of Love (Label: [https://www.discogs.com/label/1488-Alleviated-Records Alleviated Records])
- 1987 – A Love of My Own (Label: [https://www.discogs.com/label/1488-Alleviated-Records Alleviated Records])
- 1987 – Distant Planet (Label: [https://www.discogs.com/label/622-Jack-Trax Jack Trax])
- 1987 – I'm Strong (Label: [https://www.discogs.com/label/1488-Alleviated-Records Alleviated Records])
- 1988 – Can You Feel It (Label: [https://www.discogs.com/label/622-Jack-Trax Jack Trax])
- 1988 – So Glad (Label: [https://www.discogs.com/label/622-Jack-Trax Jack Trax])
- 1989 – Never No More Lonely (Label: [https://www.discogs.com/label/622-Jack-Trax Jack Trax])
- 1996 – Washing Machine (Label: [https://www.discogs.com/label/267-Trax-Records Trax Records])
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs artist|Fingers Inc.|Fingers Inc.}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Musical trios from Illinois