Album Notes

Produced by Ruth Finlay and Paul LaChapelle

Creative Consultant - Ron Korb
Engineered by Paul LaChapelle at Quest Recording Studio
Mixed and Mastered at Quest Recording Studio

Photography - Stephen McNeill
Design - Stephen McNeill
Art Direction - Stephen McNeill and Al Wilson
Wadi Rum desert images - Al Wilson

Ruth Finlay - Lead and background vocals, grand piano, classical guitar, 12 string acoustic guitar, keyboard pads on "Mysterious Man"

Ray Hickey Jr. - Steel string acoustic guitar, octave mandolin and classical guitar on "Heal Me"

Steve Lucas - Upright bass, five string acoustic bass guitar, fretless bass and keyboard pads on "Maybe Some Other Place"

Larry Crowe - Drum kit, dumbeq and percussion

Ron Korb - Bamboo flute, Irish penny whistle, silver flute

Daniel Domb - cello

John Cleveland Hughes - Keyboard pads on "Nothing To Fear"

Buzz Upshaw - Electric guitar on "Angel"

BIO

Ruth was born and raised in the Toronto area. She began her music studies with the Royal Conservatory of Music when she was six years old. Since that time she has studied voice, guitar, flute and music theory at the Conservatory and overseas as well as obtaining her degree in Music and Drama from the University of Toronto. Ruth continued her studies and received a Bachelor of Education.

Ruth began performing as a singer with her brothers and sister at the age of nine. This experience taught her how to harmonize easily and naturally, as all the songs were sung in harmony. At fifteen she taught herself how to play guitar and started writing songs to be sung in the gospel group "The Winds of Change." At sixteen she began singing and performing solo as well as singing in various groups which she directed and played guitar for.

During this time Ruth met Merv and Merla Watson who formed a group called "Shekinah." Ruth was a vocal soloist as well as a flautist with the troupe. Shekinah was to last for ten years and Ruth was an active member all that time. The troupe performed in Canada, the States, Europe, England and eventually moved to Israel where some members remain today.

While she was in Shekinah Ruth produced her first record album of spiritual songs called "Awake North Wind." Ruth continued to explore the performing arts with acting and dancing in the Toronto Theatre Group, "Inner Stage."

She was married in 1978 to the well-known Canadian mime artist and screen writer, William Finlay. They traveled to Israel with Shekinah and spent one year there writing, performing and studying. On returning they began to raise a family or two boys. After the birth of their first child, they were inspired to form a writing/performing team producing musicals for children. They took their talents to England and Africa entertaining in churches throughout Kenya as guests of the Arch Bishop Menasis Kuria.

During the late 1980s, Ruth joined a Band called Skyless. This was to be her chief musical occupation for years. The band played original Reggae music eventually moving into the rap/funk idiom. Ruth sang lead and back-up vocals and played keyboards and flute. She collaborated with the band to write a number of songs and when the band folded she continued to collaborate with Mike C. (currently the producer of the syndicated radio show called "Tuned in Radio"). Mike and Ruth formed a band called Soul Food in the early 90s and released an EP of groove music called "Spectacular."

Ruth's experience as a back-up singer led her to sing with the Blues Brothers when they appeared in Ottawa in 1994.

When her collaborative work ended she began writing in a significantly different style. Her songs were gently inspired by the inner reflections and hopes of humanity.

This path of expression has culminated with the creation of her CD called "THE BORDERLANDS." Her original songs (music and lyrics) are enhanced by the performances of flautist Ron Korb, guitarist Ray Hickey Jr., bassist Steve Lucas, drummer Larry Crowe, cellist Daniel Domb, keyboardist John Cleveland Hughes, and blues guitarist Buzz Upshaw. She co-produced the CD with Paul LaChapelle at Quest Recording Studios.

THE BORDERLANDS has been created on her own Record Label called Jesse Records.

Ruth is a supervisor with the Canadian Bureau for the Advancement of Music and teaches piano in the Toronto area.

CONTACT
Jesse Records
(416) 693-9880