Ian Lawrence Finkel (August 13, 1948 – November 16, 2020) was an American musician specializing in the xylophone, author, and entertainer.

Early life and education

Finkel was the son of

Fyvush Finkel Philip "Fyvush" Finkel ( yi, פֿײַוויש פֿינקעל; October 9, 1922 – August 14, 2016) was an American actor known as a star of Yiddish theater and for his role as lawyer Douglas Wambaugh on the television series ''Picket Fences'', ...

, and Gertrude (Lieberman) Finkel. His brother, Elliot Finkel, is also a known entertainer. The brothers performed as the comedic-duet the Finkel Boys. Finkel attended

Mannes School of Music Mannes School of Music is a music conservatory in The New School, a private research university in New York City. In the fall of 2015, Mannes moved from its previous location on Manhattan's Upper West Side to join the rest of the New School cam ...

at the New School and was a student of Walter Rosenberger. He also studied under Norman Grossman.

Career

Finkel was known as one of the world’s greatest xylophone virtuosos. He was the musical director for Michael Feinstein. He also worked for Sid Caesar, Tito Puente, and Ginger Roberts. He played with the New York Philharmonic and played with orchestras that accompanied Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and

Diana Ross Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress. She rose to fame as the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, who became Motown's most successful act during the 1960s and one of the world's best-selling girl groups o ...

. He had concert tours in Japan, Korea, Canada, Mexico, England, and America. He was the editor of ''Solos for the Vibraphone Player'' and the writer of plays and musicals including ''Sophie Tucker in Person''. His books include ''Three is The Charm'', ''Sex Stories My Wife Told Me'', and ''Transmutation Blues and Vaudeville 1922'', and numerous short stories. In 2009, he authored the humorous book, ''You're Not Suppose to Be Here''.

Personal life

Finkel was married to Cheryl Ann Allen. The couple had two children. He died of complications of COVID-19 in Manhattan on November 16, 2020, aged 72, after battling the virus since March while hospitalized for a stroke.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Finkel, Ian 1948 births 2020 deaths American writers American percussionists Mannes School of Music alumni Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state)