Al Finnell Oral History

Al Finnell – Bassist, Bandleader, and Educator

Al Finnell is a lifelong Indianapolis musician and the longtime leader of the Indy Jazzmen, a group shaped by decades of performing in clubs, private events, and community celebrations across the city. His musical journey began at Crispus Attucks High School, where exceptional aptitude scores led him from vocal music into upright bass, eventually earning spots in both the school orchestra and the All-City Orchestra.

He later performed with Larry Liggett, Jimmy Coe, Alonzo “Pookie” Johnson, and many other prominent Indiana musicians, playing at iconic venues including the Sunset Terrace, Cotton Club, and Blue Eagle.

Alongside his musical career, Al devoted 45 years to education in Indianapolis Public Schools, first as a teacher and then as a principal known for restoring stability and improving school culture in struggling buildings. His leadership earned him the nickname “the Joe Clark of Indianapolis.” He often brought music into the schools he served, using performance as a way to inspire students and connect with them.

With support from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, this project presents in-depth video interviews with musicians, educators, and culture-shapers whose lives have influenced Indiana’s musical heritage. In this oral history, Al Finnell reflects on his dual legacy as a respected jazz bassist and a transformative educator, sharing personal stories that illuminate both the Indiana Avenue tradition and the classrooms and communities he helped shape. This page includes the Complete Interview, a shorter Interview Highlight, and Image Gallery that help illustrate Al’s Amazing Indiana Music Story.

In this Interview Highlight, Al Finnell reflects on his early life in Indianapolis and the experiences that shaped him as a musician. He shares memories of performing with Larry Liggett’s band, the musicians who influenced him, and a dramatic night at the Clown’s Playhouse when gunfire forced the band to take cover behind the piano. Al also touches on his decades-long career in education, where he became known for turning struggling schools around and mentoring generations of students. This highlight offers a compelling look at the music, milestones, and moments that defined his journey. The Complete Interview can be found below for those who want the full conversation.

In the Complete Interview, Al Finnell takes a deeper look at his lifelong connection to music and education in Indianapolis. He traces his path from discovering his musical talent at Crispus Attucks High School to performing with respected Indiana musicians, leading the Indy Jazzmen, and playing in notable clubs across the city. Al also reflects on his 45-year career in education, where he served as a teacher, coach, and principal known for restoring structure and opportunity in struggling schools. Through personal stories, family history, and reflections on the Indiana Avenue legacy, this full interview offers a rich and comprehensive portrait of his life and impact.

Al Finnell’s story bridges two of Indiana’s most influential legacies: the vibrant jazz tradition rooted in Indiana Avenue, and the generations of young people shaped through Indianapolis public schools. A lifelong musician and dedicated educator, Al built a career defined by artistry, leadership, and service to his community.

Born and raised on the Near Eastside, Al discovered music early. At Crispus Attucks High School, a remarkable score on the “Music Inventory Test” changed the course of his life—his scores were the highest ever recorded at the school.

Encouraged by department head Norman Merrifield, he transitioned from vocal ensembles into instrumental music under the guidance of Laverne Newsome, quickly becoming proficient on upright bass. Within a year, he earned positions in both the school orchestra and the All-City Orchestra.

Al went on to perform with many of Indianapolis’s most respected musicians, including Larry Liggett, with whom he spent roughly fifteen years working clubs throughout the city and the state.

He also performed with artists such as Jimmy Coe, Alonzo “Pookie” Johnson, and members of his own extended musical family. His playing brought him into legendary venues like the Sunset Terrace, the Cotton Club, the Blue Eagle, and George’s Bar—key touchstones of the Indiana Avenue scene.

Al eventually formed his own group, the Indy Jazzmen, a band that became a staple of private events, country clubs, and community celebrations.

Music also remained a family thread for Al. His son Vincent became an accomplished drummer and can be heard performing on “One Take Blues” in the Interview Highlight. Al’s son David also played an important role in preserving this story, generously providing photos, recordings, and background details that help bring his father’s history to life.

A meaningful part of Al’s musical journey is also rooted in family history through his wife, Carole Ferguson Finnell. Carole is the daughter of Denver Ferguson, one of the famed Ferguson brothers, whose clubs on Indiana Avenue were central to the Chitlin’ Circuit and the evolution of Black entertainment in Indianapolis. Al’s father, a police officer who worked security in those venues, introduced him early to the musicians and atmosphere that defined the Avenue.

A Life in Education

Although many assumed he would become a music teacher, Al felt called to a different path: shaping young lives through social studies, leadership, and student development. After ten years in the classroom, he entered school administration and became known for his ability to turn struggling schools into functional, student-centered environments. He served as principal at five different Indianapolis Public Schools, frequently assigned to buildings described as “out of control” and in need of strong, transformative leadership.

His approach earned him the nickname “the Joe Clark of Indianapolis,” referencing the famously strong-willed New Jersey principal known for restoring order and improving school culture.

Al spent 35 years as a school principal and director after more than a decade in the classroom, working primarily in junior high and middle school settings, where he mentored thousands of students and helped shape their paths toward high school and beyond.

Throughout his educational career, music remained a bridge between his professional worlds. He often brought his band into schools to perform, giving students exposure to jazz and live instrumentation while showing them another dimension of who their principal was.

A Legacy of Community, Music, and Mentorship

From Indiana Avenue clubs to school hallways, from upright bass to Fender bass, from guiding students to leading bands, Al Finnell has spent a lifetime lifting others through both music and education. His career reflects a rare combination of artistic excellence, community commitment, and personal integrity—rooted deeply in Indianapolis’s cultural history.

Rooted in music, shaped by education, and sustained by community, Al Finnell’s life captures the heart of Indiana’s cultural story—one built on connection, resilience, and the desire to lift others.