~ BIOGRAPHY ~

According to Silver Shoes logic, performing, songwriting, and the recording process, breaks down into three essential ingredients: rhythm, melody, and storytelling.  This Texas duo, comprised of Maureen Finlon and John Finnigan, mixes these elements along with imagination and the emotive qualities that are lacking in the narrowly focused, genre-fied sound in much of today’s music.

John Finnigan started on his first instrument, an Imperial accordion (which he still owns today) at the age of ten.  Borrowing his older brother’s set of Slingerland drums, John joined his first rock & roll band as a drummer at the age of fourteen.  After leaving college, he made a full-time commitment to music.  With guitar and piano in tow, John honed his craft in clubs throughout the Midwest. 

Maureen Finlon was raised on the country-rock sounds of Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. Her introduction to performing happened when Finnigan’s singing partner at the time unexpectedly left for Los Angeles, leaving John high and dry for a fourth of July show.  Finlon agreed to do the gig and the connection evolved into a long-time musical partnership.

John and Maureen relocated to the Lone Star State at a time when Texas had already emerged as a major well-spring of earthy, intelligent music with songwriters like Rodney Crowell, Townes Van Zandt and Nanci Griffith, to name a few.  After recording their first album, “Way Up The Sky”, John and Maureen began touring nationally as Silver Shoes.

In the 90’s, the duo was drawn to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Northern New Mexico.  They settled in Taos, and this would be their hub for most of the decade.  With the release of their eponymous CD, “Silver Shoes”, the duo continued touring extensively throughout Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, as well as Texas. 

“One of the advantages of traveling as much as we do is that we get the chance to meet and play with great artists from all over the country”, Maureen says.  These travels have led to some interesting collaborations.  “We have a tradition of doing a few covers on our albums because great songs need to be revisited”, says John.  “It’s also a good thing to write songs with other artists to get another perspective.  I don’t always want to come from just my point of view”.

Silver Shoes have just released their long awaited CD, “Old Friend”, on Mid Ear Records, their Texas based independent label.  Under the guidance of co-producers Jack Saunders and Don Richmond “Old Friend” evolved into a spontaneous sounding album.  Featured on this 16-song set are legendary pickers that have been influencing musical trends for over 30 years.  John and Maureen assembled what could be considered the all-star cast of the “West Coast Sound”. Chris Ethridge and Byron Berline (The Flying Burrito Bros.) add bass and fiddle with graceful expertise, while Frank Reckard (Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band) brings his inspired trademark hot licks to the mix.

With the release of “Old Friend” Silver Shoes mixes the honest and aesthetic with a nod toward the nostalgic to continue their journey into another chapter of American Roots Music.