Broadcasting Pioneer Larry Finley, Founder Of The International Recording Media Association, TV/Radio Personality, Producer, Director, Station Owner, Columnist Dies At 86

5-Apr-00

Broadcasting pioneer and TV/radio personality Larry Finley, founder of the International Recording Media Association, died on April 3, 2000 of natural causes at the age of 86.Considered by his peers to be a visionary, a skilled entrepreneur, a superb salesman, and a consummate showman, Finley founded the International Tape Association (ITA) - now the International Recording Media Association (IRMA) - in 1970, at a time when early audio tape products were still finding their market. It was his belief that these early manufacturers needed a voice of their own to promote the advantages of this innovative media technology. He was not only able to persuade American manufacturers to join, but, significantly, he also opened the association's doors to offshore producers who had been denied membership in other trade associations. His diverse background in broadcast, music, entertainment and journalism prepared him for such a leadership role, and ultimately gave him the necessary contacts to bring together the companies that formed the original ITA in 1970. His ITA leadership played a pivotal role in expanding the recording media industry's involvement in the growth and acceptance of videotape as a major entertainment delivery system of our time. Today, the association has the likes of Sony, Panasonic, JVC, BMG, Universal, Fuji, Eastman Kodak, Warner and EMI among its 450 member companies.Finley's roots in recording media go back to the early 1960s, when, as President and CEO of the International Tape Cartridge Corporation (ITCC), he acquired the audio tape rights from 27 record labels and became the largest provider of entertainment on tape.His multi-faceted career included being a partner with Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey in the Casino Gardens Ballroom in San Diego, California; a partnership in Finley-McKinnon Broadcasting Company, owners of radio station KSDJ; and creating Finley Productions, Inc., the first west coast TV production company. Finley produced and hosted radio and TV shows in Los Angeles, California, including The Larry Finley Show, broadcast nightly from his restaurant on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood; as well as Strictly Informal, Dinner At Eight and Music is My Beat, the first TV shows to be kinescoped and shown by the Armed Forces Network to troops in Korea.Among the honors he received were The City Of Hope's Annual Torch Bearer Award, and Time-Life Magazine's Man Of The Decade Award in 1980. He was inducted into the Video Hall Of Fame in 1984, and in 1998 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Vision Fund of America (an association of visual professionals dedicated to promoting research and resources for visually impaired people).A long-time advisor and officer of IRMA, Finley worked until the end of his life in the industry he helped found, most recently as an advisor to the JVC Intellectual Property Department.He is survived by Betty, his wife of 40 years, five sons, and 12 grandchildren.In accordance with Finley's wishes, a private family funeral was held. Finley and the family requested that no memorial services be planned, as he received all the tribute and accolades while he was still living.Donations in Larry's memory can be sent to: The Larry Finley Memorial Fund, c/o The Vision Fund of America, 111 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022.