Alec Finn

Alexander J. Phinn (4 June 1944 – 16 November 2018), known professionally as Alec Finn, was a British-born traditional musician who is famous for his unique style of accompaniment on the bouzouki. He was best known for founding De Dannan in 1974 with Frankie Gavin, Johnny "Ringo" MacDonagh and Charlie Piggott, after a series of music sessions at Tigh Hughes, An Spidéal, County Galway. Music Finn took up the bouzouki in the 1970s, from a background of playing the guitar in skiffle and blues music. In contrast to most Irish players, he played a round-backed Greek bouzouki, one of the older-style trichordo three course (six string) instruments tuned DAD. The Greek tuning gave him a versatile modal rhythmic background on which to create counterpoint to the melody. He was also an accomplished guitar player, and dabbled in a variety of other string instruments. From the late 1970s and early 80s, he accompanied several prominent Irish instrumentalists including Frankie Gavin, Mary Bergin and Noel Hill. Many of the recordings he appeared on in this era have been highly acclaimed, and are thought of as influential within the Irish tradition.