Joe E. Finley, 70, founder and retired owner of Joe’s Records, opened it in the late 1940s as one of the first black-owned record stores in the city and later expanded to two other locations on the South Side. He also had two stores in his native Jackson, Miss.
A resident of the Gresham neighborhood, he died Sunday in the West Side Veterans Hospital.
His stores in Chicago prospered during eras in which the city and its music, whether blues, jazz, R&B or gospel, tremendously influenced the rest of the world.
The stores were the first places one could buy recordings by many of the musicians who were becoming famous here. Later, his back inventory was sought by collectors from around the world.
His first store was at 43rd Street and St. Lawrence Avenue. His others were at 547 E. 79th St. and 6251 S. King Drive.
In addition, he owned and operated One Stop Wholesale Distributor, which served other record stores, jukebox operators, disc jockeys and club owners in the area.
Mr. Finley served in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1945 and 1946 and came to Chicago shortly afterward. He worked for Witco Chemical Co. and attended an electronic repair school before opening his record store.
He retired in the late 1980s.
Survivors include his wife, Lois; two sons, Joseph and Gregory; six daughters, Vanessa Walton, Patricia, JoAnn, Kyla, Sandra Ware and Betty Davis; two stepdaughters, Rae-Chel Gibson and Cicely Gibson; his parents, Willie Sr. and Linnie Mae; two brothers; and a sister; and 12 grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday in the Calahan Funeral Home, 7030 S. Halsted St.
Services will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Antioch M.B. Church, 6248 S. Stewart Ave.
