JA13 is a collective of musicians and artists of various mediums..... It is run by Keith Finch, and his son Alex Charlie Finch, from their studio in North London.
JA13 was originally formed at Stanley House Studios in Acton, West London, when studio manager Keith took in some backing tracks, made out of samples of his favourite old reggae rhythms, and played them to Stanley House resident and reggae manager, Othman Mukhlis. They approached another resident, writer Richard Drury who wrote some vocal lines and melodies over the tracks. They contacted some of the old Jamaican singers who were around, to vocal the songs, and the result was the highly acclaimed Heroes of Kingston album, released on Othman’s label, Jamdown.
Keith was born into a musical family in Barnet, North London. The family are a fusion of immigrants from Europe (mother) and English farm hands! (father). His grandparents both played piano, his grandfather also played the squeezebox, and his mother the piano. She had been a child performer, regularly playing a classical piece on the variety shows around London, (Hackney Empire etc) and was one of the children’s voices on the famous advert for the ‘Little Ovaltines’!
Growing up in the sixties was a good time for a young boy to acquire a liking for music, and, sneaking in at a local dancehall, which backed onto his garden, got his first taste of reggae and soul music, at the famous Rocka-Cha club, which was frequented by Mods and then skinheads, from all over North London. Obviously, Keith became a skinhead, one of the original (based on his working class culture, fashion, music and football, skinheads were not, at that time, associated with any political parties or leanings) His first purchases were Tamla Motown records, closely followed by Jamaican imports from Derek’s in Turnpike Lane.
After starting work in Midland Bank, Mornington Crescent in 1971 most of his money was spent at import shops and Contempo records, 42 Hanway Street London, W1. In the summer of 1975 Keith embraced the punk culture, going to the clubs like the Sombrero, and Shagaramas. He was a regular in the Kings Road that year, and as punk grew, hung out in the shops listening to underground soul and dub ala Big Youth.
But in wasn’t until 1976 that he got involved with actually playing in bands, first local punk bands, and then as the keyboard player with a London band, Crown of Thorns.
Under the banner of ‘Acid Disco’, they gigged around Britain and Europe for two years until being signed by Police manager Miles Copeland, and signed to his IRS Record label here and in the States. Appearing in the lower end of the charts and developing a large live following, playing at places like Hammersmith Palais, Lyceum and the famous Marquee Club in Wardour Street, in the studio they worked with producers like Richard Mazda (JBs) and a young William Orbit.
They are now citied on the net as one of the first forms of Techno dance music, although 10 years before their time. The band spilt in the late 80’s and after a year or so as ‘Blast!’ a social political band, involved in the struggle to retain socialism, trade unionism, supporting the miners, etc., Keith moved on and went to work for fashion designer Katherine Hamnett.
In the late 90’s, after getting married, having a son, and getting divorced, he returned to music, whilst helping to design, build, and develop a large studio in West London. Stanley House was an empty four storey Victorian warehouse until, and along with owner Andy Morris, (Writer and producer of Lisa Stansfield’s first two albums) they transformed it into a state of the art studio facility with clients like George Michael, S Club 7, Bjork, etc.
It was then Keith rekindled his music ambitions and started experimenting and learning on Apple Mac computers and Logic Audio.
The first result was the well-received ‘Heroes of Kingston’ album. Along with songwriter and producer Richard Drury (working under the banner of JA13) and many of the original talents from early Jamaican music (BB Seaton, Rico Rodriguez, Alton Ellis, Derek Morgan, Owen Gray, Denis Alcapone, Dave Barker, and Winston Francis) they produced an album championed by the likes of David Rodigan, and Miss P.
JA13 have gone on to write and produce the girl ragga band 'FYA' selling 100,000 copies in Japan, and have chart entries in Europe and Japan with Saint and Campbell. We have also worked with Bob Andy, Joseph Cotton, Glen Adams from the Upsetters, Susan Cadagon, and other assorted artists.
A new album with Rico Rodriguez is just out. We have supplied music for TV (Sitcoms) and advertising (Tesco, BA. etc), and recently for Arsenal TV matchday music. We are developing a theatre project with 'Layer Cake' writer/screenwriter JJ Connolly, and in the studio with Lee Thompson from Madness and Jenny from the BelleStars on a new project called 'The Dance Brigade'... Most of the songs above are available at itunes, at JA13 featuring... whoever it is....
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