| Featured Member of the Month |
| October 2010 |
| ~ Vicky Finley ~ |
| Vicky Finley is an Okie at Heart. She has lived all over the region, including Kansas and Texas, but she has always returned to the Oklahoma City area. She and her family were members of the Grand Boulevard Baptist Church for many years. This is where Vicky first started singing in public. It is interesting that it was after coming back to her church that Vicky found the CMSA. Vicky says, "Ginger (Boles) really got me going, but Danny Barton and John Fisher have both been an inspiration to me. The CMSA and it's members have really been good to me. CMSA has given me my life back, and I thank God for all of them." When she was just 4 years old, Vicky's dad taught her the song "Mansion on the Hilltop". She recalls, "I could not even read, but dad taught me all three verses". Playing the guitar and singing was just a natural thing for dad. Most of the songs came from the Baptist Hymnal; however, he also loved songs from the Grand Ole' Opry. Vicky learned the songs but admits she never knew the artists. At the age of 10, she was saved and baptized at the baptist church. Vicky, her sister, and two other little girls were the Sunday morning attraction there. "Dad's best friend was the song leader. So you might say that I learned all my music from my dad and the church", she says. Vicky was a student of Southeast High School in Oklahoma City. Later, she sang at the Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City. That lasted about 2 years. Then, in 1976 she went to Nashville and got to sing at "Fan Fair". Vicky recalled, "I got to sing three songs that day, and also perform at the Ryman Theater". After that, while living in Enid Oklahoma, she got to be a member of a band, singing with them for 6 months! The band toured all over Kansas and northern Oklahoma. All of that while raising 4 small kids! In 1977, she moved back to central Oklahoma and made her home in Moore. Singing in church whenever she could, driving a school bus, and raising 4 kids was a full time job. In the early 1980's, she moved to Noble Oklahoma and started a music ministry. She drove a school bus for the handicapped during these years and loved every minute of it. She now had music at home, at work, and at church! Also while living there, she would search out openings to sing in public. One such event was the Rose Rock Festival. There were always plenty of Gospel programs in Noble, one of them regularly performing at the Junior High School in Noble. Between her piano teacher and the LIttle River Band, Vicky always had plenty of accompaniment on stage. In her idle time she would visit nursing homes and would bring smiles to the faces of residents there. In 2002, she relocated to Texas. While there, she learned about 'karaoke' from a friend who had made a busniness of it. Vicky said, " She had two kids, and we took the kids everywhere we went and set up the Karaoke equipment. We always went to places where you could bring the kids." This was a two year venture. Then guess what happened?? She moved again! This time it was back to Oklahoma City where she got introduced to the CMSA. Vicky has had her share of illnesses, but has bounced back and is ready to sing again. She says that the CMSA has really filled her life. She loves all types of music, including songs from the 40's, 50's, and 60's. But, Gospel is by far her favorite! She said, "I promised the Lord that if he would give me another chance and give me my voice back that I would sing for him for the rest of my life". She has been active with the CMSA for several years and has helped out with various events. Currently working as a co-chair with Georgiea Motley helping to aquire sponsors for the 2011 Country and Gospel shows. Look for Vicky on a show real soon, and listen to her Gospel songs. You'll be glad you did. |