1. Michael Barry Finnerty was born on December 3,1951 and is an American jazz guitarist, keyboardist, singer, songwriter, and arranger, known for his work as a touring and recording session musician for Miles Davis, The Crusaders, the Brecker Brothers, Hubert Laws, and Ray Barretto.
Barry Finnerty was born in San Francisco and raised on the West Coast, studying at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and University of California Berkeley.
Barry Finnerty lived in Hong Kong with his mother in the early 1960s.
Barry Finnerty moved to New York City after attending Berklee College of Music for a short time in 1971.
Barry Finnerty played and recorded with Michael Brecker and Randy Brecker and The Crusaders, in addition to touring in Europe with Billy Cobham in 1980.
Barry Finnerty played and recorded with Miles Davis in 1981, being featured on much of Davis's 1981 album The Man with the Horn and is mentioned in Davis's autobiography.
Barry Finnerty has worked both as a session musician and as leader of his own bands.
Barry Finnerty released his first jazz education book, The Serious Jazz Practice Book, in 2006.
Barry Finnerty authored a follow-up work in 2008, The Serious Jazz Book II, endorsed by jazz flautist Hubert Laws.
In 2016 Barry Finnerty released a novel loosely based on his life in New York City in the mid-90s.
Barry Finnerty is the son of actor Warren Barry Finnerty who appeared in numerous films including Cool Hand Luke and Easy Rider.
Barry Finnerty is married to artist and songwriter Clarita Zarate.