Matt Feeney and Larry Winthrop have been making music together in Arizona for over 40 years, first as members of a folk trio (with Ellen Hawley McWhirter) called “Turning The Tide”. Following Ellen’s move from Arizona, Matt and Larry formed “feeney/winthrop” in the early 1990’s.

A primary focus of the group since its formation has been benefit concerts supporting organizations that assist Phoenix’s homeless, low-income, and disadvantaged population. Since 2008, feeney/winthrop has performed an annual concert supporting St. Joseph the Worker Job Service, an organization devoted to assisting individuals in their efforts to become self-suficient through quality employment. Through April 2025, these concerts have raised more than $750,000.

Larry’s wife, Pat, joined the group in the late 1990’s. “Jumpin’” Gerry Garcia, who was in a band with Matt at Notre Dame in the late 1970s, played with the group for over a decade, contributing his stellar stand-up bass playing and crowd-pleasing vocals to the mix. Matt’s sister, Kathleen, was a valued member of the group for several years, contributing her rich vocals and warm stage presence to the group. Matt’s brother, Mike, served as the group’s recording engineer for many years until his death in 2008. In 2012, long-time friend and jazz pianist Luke Holton joined the group playing keyboards, producing and recording feeney/winthrop CDs at Snoring Dog Recording Studio. In 2019, Ellen Hawley McWhirter (referenced above as a member of Turning the Tide) joined feeney/winthrop, completing a musical circle and starting a new musical adventure. Drummer Alvaro Morello has joined feeney/winthrop for the past several annual concerts.