Rick Schulman Finney Passes Away At Nashville Home

George Jones & Rick Finney

MICHAEL DEAN "RICK" FINNEY, a NASHVILLE songwriter, singer, actor and voiceover artist, passed away TUESDAY at his home. He was 63. FINNEY was formerly known as RICK SCHULMAN, the surname of his adoptive parents, but in his 40s he changed his last name to FINNEY, after his birth mother's maiden name.

FINNEY is known for co-writing "When You're Ugly Like Us (You Just Naturally Got To Be Cool)," which was performed by GEORGE JONES and JOHNNY PAYCHECK. FINNEY appeared in two of the "Ernest" movies, "Coal Miner's Daughter," "At Close Range" and music videos by JOHNNY CASH, RAY CHARLES and ROY ORBISON. He was also one of the "New York City?" voices in the PACE PICANTE SALSA commercials and did voiceover work for many other companies, such as NASCAR.

FINNEY worked with many artists including COWBOY JACK CLEMENT, JOHNNY CASH and WAYLON JENNINGS.

CLEMENT said: "He loved music and could play anything you wanted to play. He was just a great guy to have around. Like JOHNNY CASH, (he was) someone you can work with and have fun with, and he always seemed to fit into every kind of music I was involved in.”

FINNEY was also a well known NASHVILLE performer. RICK SANJEK, his former manager, said: “A comic, a blues band, whoever … he just fit the bill for everything.” 

ALL ACCESS sends condolences to the friends and family of RICK SCHULMAN FINNEY.

A memorial service will be held at ST. GEORGE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 4715 HARDING PIKE, at 11 a.m. Saturday (10/3), with family visitation and luncheon afterwards at the FINNEY home on CORNWALL AVENUE. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice.

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