Episode 177- FINLAY MORTON TALKS 10 Downing Street & Soho Radio

It is a pleasure to welcome singer-songwriter Finlay Morton to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, Finlay taught himself to play his older brother’s Epiphone guitar at 10. His influences vary from blues musician Sonny Terry and Scottish folk act The Corries to classic rockers Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Neil Young. At 18, he packed up his guitar and moved to London to play in a band. While he played in various band, he worked as 10 Downing Street as its official sound engineer.

From 1990 to 2007, Finlay Morton served four British Prime Ministers. He was present when a teary Margaret Thatcher left 10 Downing Street for the last time. He was ‘Tony Blair’s Roadie’ and was feet away when the former Prime Minister met former US President George W. Bush, former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, and the infamous Muammar Gaddafi. He also advised former Prime Minster Gordon Brown on his first day in office to never forget when he is wearing a microphone, advice that the former British Prime Minister seemingly forgot.

In 2004, Finlay had a chance meeting with Moody Blues and Status Quo producer Pip Williams, which resulted in his first self-penned album Interpret This, which was released in 2006.
Two singles went to radio with resulting airplay on regional radio stations throughout the United Kingdom along with a successful acoustic tour with guitarist Greg Bone.

In 2008, Finlay started working on his second album, Back to Basics, at West London’s Wendyhouse Studios. During the mixing process, he suffered a heart attack. Thanks to speedy medical attention, he went back to work only in a few days. His first single, “Scary Monsters,” was released later that year with more radio support. Legendary Los Angeles-based producer John Ryan updated Finlay’s masters and the album was re-released as Back to Basics 2009. “The Devil Ain’t Getting My Soul,” the album’s first single, garnered both US and UK airplay.

In addition to his passion for music, Finlay is a co-founder of London internet radio station Soho Radio, which is now, after five years, firmly established. Soho Radio won Mixcloud’s “Best Internet Station in the World.” In 2019, Soho Radio also launched in New York City.

In this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Finlay Morton spoke about his experience working at 10 Downing Street and his song: “Move Mountains.”

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