Major new soul voice Robert Finley makes his recorded debut at 62 on Fat Possum imprint Big Legal Mess.

Already, the New York Times has called the 62 year old north Louisianan singer “more than convincing… venerable but vigorous” and he has performed at NYC’s prestigious GlobalFest and at the King Biscuit Festival.

Produced by Bruce Watson and Jimbo Mathus, the album traverses the classic Booker T & The MGs-esque Memphis groove of ‘I Just Want To Tell You’, the tough soul blues of the title track, ‘Snake In My Grass’ and ‘Is It Possible To Love 2 People’, the romantic deep soul of ‘Make It With You’, danceable funk on ‘You Make Me Want To Dance’, the tremolo and organ-soaked heartache of ‘It’s Too Late’. Finley proves himself a powerful songwriter, penning seven of the album’s nine tracks himself.

Facing vision troubles after careers in the US Army and as a civilian carpenter, Finley decided to pursue music fulltime with the assistance of the Music Maker Relief Foundation. Finley travelled north to Memphis to work with members of the Bo-Keys.

Players include a who’s who of the Memphis soul scene, including drummer Howard Grimes (Al Green, Otis Clay, Syl Johnson, OV Wright), Marc Franklin (Bobby ‘Blu’ Bland), Jimbo Mathus (Elvis Costello), Al Gamble (St. Paul & The Broken Bones, The Hold Steady, Alex Chilton), Kirk Smothers (Jim Lauderdale, Buddy Guy), Reba Russell (U2, BB King), Harold Thomas (James Carr), Daunielle Hill (Solomon Burke).