Kevin Flynn Orchestra / Showband / Editor's Feature (1953-68?)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
Editor's note: Every care
has been taken to present only factual information in this story
based on newspaper articles and photographic
archives. If you can add anything or correct info in this story,
please email us and let us know.
Long before the showband era started, "Kevin
Flynn and his Orchestra" were playing gigs all across the southern
part of Ireland. Based in Cahir, Co. Tipperary they were a part of
the scene which included such luminaries as Mick Delahunty, Stephen
Garvey and Pat Crowley. The first reference to the band we found was
in 1953. Throughout the 1950's, Kevin and his band played mostly at
venues in counties Cork, Kerry and Tipperary.
A small advert in 1960 named
Martin Flynn as the band's manager, and we can only assume they were
related. During the early 1960's the band continued to do a strong
business, but rarely moved outside their southern domain. As the
term showband was being applied to more and more bands, as far as we
can tell, Kevin's band was usually advertised as an orchestra and
occasionally with only his name, "Kevin
Flynn."
In October, 1963 we finally found
an advert for the "Kevin Flynn Show Band." From then
on, the band was usually referred to as a showband, with the
orchestra moniker fading quickly. At the same time, the band was
still, more or less, playing strictly in the southern regions of
Munster. A glance at the band photo below from 1964 shows that the
band was older than most of the younger showbands that had been
formed in the early 1960's. This problem would affect many of the
bands who had been around in the early 1950's as younger dancers
were looking for younger idols, especially in the era of the Beatles
and the Rolling Stones. During this time the band appeared to be
(based on adverts) busier than ever.
After two years, things for the
band had started to slow down, a reflection of their aging line-up
we think. It would be late in 1965 when the band reinvented itself
changing its name to "Kevin Flynn and the
Editors." At this point Kevin's son, also named Kevin was reported
to have taken over the band and Kevin Sr. retired from the road
"after 25 years."
The band had "undergone a complete
change" and the new line-up included Kevin Flynn, Jr. (sax), Alex
Steele (guitar), Liam Harpur (bass), Bob Johnson (drums), Donn
Cotter (guitar), and Chris McCarthy (trumpet). We're not sure what
role (if any) Kevin Sr. then had with the band. They also released
their first single, "If You Change Your
Mind" on the Emerald Label sung by Alex Steele. The B-side was
"Queen of the Hop," sung by Donn Cotter.
Although the record didn't make
the charts, the exposure on radio helped reinvigorate their image as
a younger band and they continued to enjoy success across the
country, breaking out of their mainly southern circuit of gigs. Over
the next few years things continued to go well for the band,
although we don't think Kevin Sr. actually ever played with the band
again.
The last date
we could find for the Editors was in
December 1972. However the story of the band did
not end there as from 1973 through 1976 we found adverts for "Kevin
Flynn and the Tipperary Express" which we think was more of a local
band.
More to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
