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The Johnny Flynn Showband (1948 - 1990)

Photo Gallery - Band Lineups - Discography - Audio samples - Where Are They Now?

The Story

Article by John Baird and Gerry Gallagher

The town of Tuam in Co. Galway, has earned a reputation as “the Showband capital of Ireland” because at one time in the early 60's, no less than six top class showbands called the well known market town home. The best known of these was the Johnny Flynn Showband, a musical combination with its roots firmly in the tradition of the Tuam Brass Band. This is not surprising as Tuam's bandmaster, Danny Kelly (senior) was a member of the original Johnny Flynn Dance band. 

John Joseph Flynn was born on January 13th, 1929 and by the time he played his first professional gig he was nineteen years old...a young age to have your own band. The band's story starts in the late 1940's long before the era of the showbands. The band hit the road in October, 1948 and the first dance advert we found was the Halloween Dance in Cummer Ballroom (outside Tuam) featuring "J. J. Flynn and His Band" (see below). Early adverts often listed the band by a number of names including the "J. J. Flynn Orchestra," "Dance Band," and "J. J. Flynn and His Boys." Johnny's full name was John Joseph Flynn, hence the "J. J." moniker.

In these early days, the band played mostly around Tuam and County Galway. It would seem that the line-up may have been quite fluid with musicians coming and going as a part time band. By 1951, the band was ready to spread its wings and Johnny placed ads in the Irish Independent newspaper "dance band" section looking for gigs further afield. There were also a few changes in the band as Danny Kelly, Sr. joined the band on piano along with Francie Flynn who would stay with the band for many years. Johnny was also managing the band from his home in Tuam. 

In 1952, the band was ahead of its time, introducing the "electric guitar" into the line-up and were now featuring "the beautiful music of the South Seas" in their programme. In 1953, the band boasted having the first Hohner "Multi-Monica" electronic organ in the country. This was a new concept in those days (a kind of hybrid organ and accordion) which would herald the start of the synthesizer era way back in the 1950's.

The band's growth from local band to regional player and beyond would take some time. Even by 1952-53, they were only playing in Connaught and as far north as Sligo. However, with Johnny on accordion, the band could play the standard dance tunes of the day, as well as a wide variety of Ceili, Dixieland and country music. This is one of the distinctions that allowed them to provide what dancers wanted, a trait the band would carry for the rest if its history.

The band's regional reputation was second to none and it was a natural that when the showband boom hit, Johnny would be right there in the thick of things. By the mid 1950's Johnny's band was being referred to as an "orchestra" but they still weren't able to crack the national market which was normal for the times as most bands were at best semi-pro with full time day jobs and traveling around the country was an expensive and time consuming way of life.  

Ever the innovator, by the end of 1955, adverts for the band included the "orchestra" as well as the "Dixieland Five and the Harmony Quartette." It was becoming obvious that the "show" was finally being injected into the band which was a major trend in the mid 1950's as dances would often last from 9 p.m. until 4 in the morning and bands struggled to provide 7 hours of entertainment. This was often overcome by using 2 band session or provision of a "relief group" which would usually be a smaller local band. Sometime in January or February 1956, the band went from a nine piece to eight piece line-up (and the harmony quartette was reduced to a trio), so we know someone left the band. 

In 1958, Johnny cast aside the music stands and put together his first fully fledged "showband." The original lineup was: Johnny Flynn (organ/accordion), brothers Brendan Flynn (sax/clarinet) and Francie Flynn (bass), Danny Kelly (Jr.-trombone), Billy Potter (guitar), Frankie Hannon (drums), Ollie Maloney (trumpet) and Gerry Cronin (vocals). He also got a professional manager, Tom Costello. 

The band was an immediate success and even out drew the top bands in the West of Ireland. The band became one of the first five showbands to tour the United States in 1960. They would visit again in 1962.

In September, 1963, they again toured America for the third time and while over there recorded a single featuring Gerry Cronin entitled You Took Her Off My Hands. ("You Took Her Off My Hands (Now Please Take Her Off My Mind)" / "Hoots Mon Twist" on Headline records in New York, catalog number 1016.) On September 14th, it was reported they would be releasing that single in Ireland, however it was never released here as it was later reported that the hole in the middle of the record was too large for a standard Irish record player.

Over the next few years, Johnny and the band would go on the trip to the States for Dublin impresario Bill Fuller's Irish-American ballroom circuit every year, each time staying away for a little longer until they were a month long affair. 

1964 was a somewhat tumultuous year for the band. Pat Smyth joined giving the band two lead singers. Then a few months later, Ollie Maloney, Gerry Cronin and Billy Potter left to form the Ohio Showband. Ray Donnelly (guitar/vocals) was brought in to replace Gerry and a short time later Jim Dalton (guitar), and Billy Kelly (RIP-trumpet) joined the band. In the meantime, they continued to travel countrywide and had an especially big following in the Northwest. More tours of the USA and trips to the UK were undertaken, and they took part in the New York St. Patrick's Day parade in 1964.

In 1965, the band recorded its first Irish single, Who Knows sung by Ray Donnelly, who went by the name Ray Donn. However, a spelling error at Decca had the label printed as the Johnny Flynn Band featuring Ray Dunn. Although the record did not do particularly well, it got valuable airplay and brought the band into the National limelight as all the bands had been recording by this time after Tom Dunphy started the ball rolling in 1962 (only 3 years earlier). The band was being managed by Mike Kelly.

Like other bands, there were many personnel changes  but the line up that made the most impression on the recording scene was : Johnny and Francie Flynn, Frankie Hannon, Jim Dalton, Danny Kelly, Roy Donnelly, Joe McIntyre, Billy Kelly, Pete Creighton and vocalist Pat Smyth who had a No. 1 hit with The Black and Tan Gun in 1966. It would be the band's one and only record to enter the Irish Charts. This fine line up also recorded many singles and an album entitled The Magnificent 7 which covered much of the band's varied stage repertoire and was released in 1972.

In 1966, Roy left the band, lured away by the promise of a solo Decca recording career in England. He quit and moved to London, but soon found the contract he was offered was not as promised and returned to Dublin. Retiring as a fully professional singer, he took a day job, but was soon singing part time again with the Tom O'Brien band, with whom he had been with in 1961 in the Crystal Ballroom, before joining Johnny Flynn. However they were now the resident band in Clery's Ballroom in Dublin.

By 1972, Jimmy Harte was no longer performing and in 1978, he emigrated to the USA and has remained there since. (He has since returned to the stage and started singing again).  

Around the same time (1972) Johnny announced a partnership with The Fleet Showband (also from Tuam) called Entertainment Workshop. The idea was to provide all types of entertainment for a variety of venues including dances and cross channel events for both bands. We are pretty sure this never got any place as within a year, we think the band was off the road, but we will check on that fact. An interesting side note is that by this time, Jim Dalton, formerly with Johnny Flynn had joined the Fleet as its leader behind Gerry Fahey.     

Like all the Tuam bands, The Flynn Band featured many brass arrangements, this being their trademark and the varied dancing programme of pop, Dixieland, country, and ballads was well received by appreciative dancers. They had in their enigmatic drummer Frankie “Flash” Hannon, a superb drummer and showman and his renderings of Fats Domino numbers were showstoppers to say the least.

Around May, 1972 Johnny started using the name, The Johnny Flynn Sound which he would use on and off for the next few years. This great showband left us with a host of memories and will never be forgotten. They were great musicians all: names like Mickey Eagleton, Mickey Devaney, Billy McGlinchey, Patsy Haugh, Angelina McDonagh, Martin Murphy, and others were a part of the band. At this point the band was being managed by Peter Hannon. It also appeared that by September, Pat had left the band as it now featured "Angela and John."

Johnny would continue playing throughout the 1980's, but seemed to be limited to playing in Dublin and around Galway and Mayo. The days as a national showband were over and gigs were getting harder to find. It seems that band slowly petered out somewhere between 1990 and 1994, although "Johnny Flynn and his Band" were still advertised for the odd dance around Tuam in 1994. 

On November 26th, 1996, Johnny Flynn passed away suddenly, aged just 68. He had been playing up until a week before his unexpected death. Having first started his band in 1948, he had been playing regularly to audiences across Ireland and the rest of the world almost 50 years. Johnny had seen and done it all on the Irish entertainment scene and is still considered one of Tuam's best loved personalities. Sadly, most of his former band members from the 50's and 60's have passed away as Brendan Flynn, Billy Kelly, Frankie Hannon, Mickey Eagleton, Gerry Cronin and Ollie Maloney, all sadly left us too soon.  

Photo Gallery

Click on thumbnails for full images

J. J. Flynn Band - 1948 J. J. Flynn Band - 1948 J. J. Flynn Band - 1951 J. J. Flynn Band - 1952 J. J. Flynn Band - 1953
J. J. Flynn Band - 1955 Johnny Flynn - 1956 (JB) Johnny Flynn (JB) Johnny Flynn - 1958 (LR) Johnny Flynn - 1960
Johnny Flynn (BK) Johnny Flynn (LR) Johnny Flynn - 1963 Johnny Flynn - 1964 Johnny Flynn - 1964
Johnny Flynn (BK) Johnny Flynn (BS) Johnny Flynn - 1966 (JB) Johnny Flynn (PB) Johnny Flynn  (JB)
Johnny Flynn Sound (JB) Johnny Flynn Sound (JB) Pat Smith (RM) Johnny Flynn (RM) Johnny Flynn (RM)
Johnny Flynn (RM) Johnny Flynn (RM) Johnny Flynn (RM) Johnny Flynn (RM) Johnny Flynn (RM)
Johnny Flynn - 1966 (BF) Johnny Flynn (PH) Johnny Flynn - 1950's Johnny Flynn Sound - 1972 Johnny Flynn Sound - 1972
Johnny Flynn Sound - 1972 Johnny Flynn Sound - 1972 Johnny Flynn Sound - 1972 Johnny Flynn with Ali (MH) Johnny Flynn (PL)
Johnny Flynn (PL) Johnny Flynn Sound - 1972 Johnny Flynn (RF) Johnny Flynn (RF) Johnny Flynn (RF)
Johnny Flynn (RF) Johnny Flynn (RF) Johnny Flynn (RF) Johnny Flynn (RF) Johnny Flynn (RF)
Johnny Flynn (RF) Johnny Flynn - 1966 (RF) Johnny Flynn - 1964 (RF) Johnny Flynn (RF) Johnny Flynn (RF)
Johnny Flynn (RF) Johnny Flynn (RF) Johnny Flynn (RF) Johnny Flynn - 1958 (RF) Johnny Flynn (RF)
Johnny Flynn (RF) Johnny Flynn (RF) Johnny Flynn (RF) Johnny Flynn (RF) Johnny Flynn - 1972
Johnny Flynn - 1973 Mickey Eagleton-1960 Frankie Hannon-1975 Johnny Flynn - 1996 Francie Flynn -2016
J.J. FLYNN DANCE BAND
Year Vocals VocalsII Piano/Gtr Accordion Bass Drums Acc/Keybs Sax Trumpet Trombone
1948
 
Unknown Unknown Frankie
Geddes
Jimmy
Beahan
  Paid
Tighe
Johnny
Flynn
Matt
Higgins
Bernie
Whyte
 
1951
 
Unknown Unknown Danny
Kelly,Sr.
Jimmy
Beahan
  Francie
Flynn
Johnny
Flynn
Matt
Higgins
Martin
Rooney
 
JOHNNY FLYNN DANCE BAND
Year Vocals VocalsII Piano/Gtr Sax/Gtr. Bass Drums Acc/Keybs Accd/Sax Trumpet Trombone
1954
 
Philomena
Costello
  Danny
Kelly,Sr.
Martin
Costello
Francie
Flynn
Frankie
Hannon
Johnny
Flynn
Johnny
Costello
Tommy
Higgins
 
1956
 
Kevin
Eagleton
  Danny
Kelly,Sr.
Mickey
Devaney
Francie
Flynn
Frankie
Hannon
Johnny
Flynn
Brendan
Flynn
   

 
Mickey
Eagleton
  Billy
Mac
  Francie
Flynn
Frankie
Hannon
Johnny
Flynn
Brendan
Flynn
Olly
Maloney
 
Dec
1958
Gerry
Cronin
  Billy
Potter
  Francie
Flynn
Frankie
Hannon
Johnny
Flynn
Brendan
Flynn
Olly
Maloney
Danny
Kelly,Jr.
Aug
1960
Gerry
Cronin
  Billy
Potter
  Francie
Flynn
Frankie
Hannon
Johnny
Flynn
Brendan
Flynn
Olly
Maloney
Danny
Kelly,Jr.
1963
 
Gerry
Cronin
Pat
Smyth
Billy
Potter
Pete
Creighton
Francie
Flynn
Frankie
Hannon
Johnny
Flynn
Joe
McIntyre
Olly
Maloney
Danny
Kelly,Jr.
Oct
1963
Roy"Donn"
Donnelly
Pat
Smyth
  Pete
Creighton
Francie
Flynn
Frankie
Hannon
Johnny
Flynn
Joe
McIntyre
Billy
Kelly
Danny
Kelly,Jr.
1964
 
Roy"Donn"
Donnelly
Pat
Smyth
Jim
Dalton
Pete
Creighton
Francie
Flynn
Frankie
Hannon
Johnny
Flynn
Joe
McIntyre
Billy
Kelly
Danny
Kelly,Jr.
1966
 
Jimmy
Harte
Pat
Smyth
Jim
Dalton
Pete
Creighton
Francie
Flynn
Frankie
Hannon
Johnny
Flynn
Joe
McIntyre
Billy
Kelly
Danny
Kelly,Jr.
1972 Angela
McDonagh
Pat
Smyth
  Pete
Creighton
Francie
Flynn
Frankie
Hannon
Johnny
Flynn
Patsy
Haugh
Billy
Kelly
Danny
Kelly,Jr.

12
Angela
McDonagh
  Unknown   Francie
Flynn
Unknown Johnny
Flynn
Patsy
Haugh
  Danny
Kelly,Jr.

Irish Discography (partial list):

Singles:

Who Knows / Afraid to Go  (J. Flynn Showband featuring Roy "Donn" Donnelly)
Decca Records - F.12141 - June, 1965
Black and Tan Gun  / Your Mother's Prayer
 (J. Flynn Showband with Pat Smyth) - #1 Irish Charts
Emerald Records - MD 1033 - February, 1966
Tell My Little Girl Goodbye / The Fugitive
(J. Flynn Showband)
Emerald Records - MD 1076 - 1967
The Dying Rebel / A Word or Two to Mary
(J. Flynn Showband with Pat Smyth)
Emerald Records - MD 1129 - 1969
Banna Strand (Peter Creighton) /Heart Break Hill (Frankie Hannon) - J. Flynn Sound
Release Records - RL.554 - 1970
Cartello (Quigley) / Lagan Love / Magic Trumpet - (J. Flynn Showband)
Ruby Records - RUB.129 - 1971
Four Green Fields
/ Wandering Home (J. Flynn Showband with Pat Smyth)
Pye Records - 7N.60010 - 1972
Drowning My Sorrows / Playback - (J. Flynn Sound with Angela)
Hawk Records - HASP 318 - June, 1973
Today Tomorrow and Forever / Burning The Midnight Oil - (J. Flynn Sound with Angela)
IRL Records - IRL.229 - Unknown

Album:

The Magnificent Seven plus two = The Johnny Flynn Sound - (J. Flynn Sound)
EMI Talisman Records - STAL 1025 - 1972

Our thanks to Bob Merchant for assistance with this discography.

Audio Clips

       
Black & Tan Gun Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?  

Kevin Eagleton - RIP: We have been told by Marie Hannon, that Kevin sadly passed away in the United States some years ago.
Mickey Eagleton - RIP: We have been told by Marie Hannon, that Kevin sadly passed away in the United States some years ago.
Danny Kelly, Sr.-RIP Sadly passed away
Mickey Devaney - RIP: We have been told by Marie Hannon, that Mickey sadly passed away some years ago.
Francie Flynn - RIP: Marie Hannon told us via email in Dec 2013 that Francie was still in Tuam where he has lived all his life. Francie played with local bands after his showband days including Rosaleen and the Ramblers. He was a talented carpenter and for many years taught woodworking at the Toghermore Training Centre, Tuam (An HSE Mental Health Service Vocational Training Centre) until he retired. He also volunteered with the Irish Wheelchair Association in Tuam. Sadly, Francie passed away on January 26th, 2016. He will be sadly missed by friends and family across Ireland especially in the Tuam area.   
Frankie Hannon - RIP:  Marie Hannon, Frankie's daughter, emailed us in November, 2013 to tell us when Frankie
quit the Johnny Flynn band in mid 1972, he formed a local trio called the Big 3 with Pete Creighton and Billy Kelly.
Sadly, Frankie passed away only 3 years later on August 16th, 1975. He was only 41 and left behind a young family of five.
Johnny Flynn: RIP One of the West of Ireland's most beloved musicians, Johnny Flynn kept his band on the road for over over 30 years from the 1940's through the 1970's. We sure he also played well past that time. Johnny sadly passed away in 1996.
Brendan Flynn: RIP Sadly passed away
Danny Kelly, Jr. - RIP: Marie Hannon told us via email in Dec 2013 that Danny was still in Tuam where he had lived all his life. We do not know whether he was still involved with music. In April, 2022, we received an email from Andy Newman of Tuam informing us that Danny had sadly passed away on October 13th, 2019.
Olly Moloney: RIP Ollie left the Johnny Flynn Band in the mid 1960's (we not sure if it was the same time as Gerry Cronin), but we do know he ended up with the Ohio showband for a short time. He then formed his own Olly Moloney Band in the 1970's. Sadly, Olly passed away March 23, 1994.      
Phil Costello - RIP: Sadly passed away, Phil was Johnny's Costello's wife.
Tommy Higgins: If you know more, please let us know.
Johnny Costello - RIP: We understand from Marie Hannon that Johnny has sadly passed away. If you know more, please let us know.
Martin Costello - RIP:  We understand from Marie Hannon that Martin has sadly passed away. If you know more, please let us know.
Roy Donnelly: In 2013, we caught up with Roy and he told us he left the band in 1966 and ended up singing with the Tom O'Brien band who were resident in Clery's Ballroom in Dublin. In 1972, he retired from performing and in 1978 emigrated to the States, where he has remained. A few years ago, he retired from his "day job" and started singing again for fun. He performs regularly with his show, "An Affair to Remember." He spoke fondly of his days in the showband and the fans of the era. He said he hopes to do a tour of Ireland. Then 70, he continues to entertain audiences across Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.     
Gerry Cronin - RIP:  Gerry left the band sometime in the early to mid 1960's and formed his own band, The Ohio. The band started as a showband and eventually went through oth country music and eventually pop as it became the Cronin Family Band in the late 70's and early 80's. Sadly Gerry passed away April 3, 1988.
Pete Creighton - RIP:  We know from Marie Hannon that Pete left the band at the same time as Frankie Hannon and formed a trio called the BIg 3. Pete sadly passed away March 20, 2010
Jim Dalton:  Marie Hannon tells us Jim is living in Dublin  If you know more, please let us know.
Jimmy Harte: After leaving the Miami, Jimmy stayed close to home and joined the Jack Flahive Orchestra. A few years later he moved on to the Arrans Showband finally ended up living in Tuam and playing with the Johnny Flynn Showband before emigrating to Australia. Jimmy emailed us in 2006 to tell us he was living in Perth Australia (he emigrated there in 1986) where he was still playing and singing. He toured extensively in Asia and South Africa since leaving Ireland and released a CD of original songs in 2006 as well. He had a band there for 15 years which finished 7 years ago. He was playing solo using backing tracks and had recently celebrated his 70th birthday.
Billy Kelly - RIP We know from Marie Hannon that Billy left the band at the same time as Frankie Hannon and formed a trio called the BIg 3. Sadly, Billy was killed in a car crash around 1973 along with his brother P.J. He left behind a very young family of six.      
Joe McIntyre:  Marie Hannon tells us Joe is living in Dublin. If you know more, please let us know.    
Pat Smith (Smyth?): Marie Hannon sent us an email in December, 2013 to say Pay was living in Dublin, but still maintains a house in Tuam and visits regularly. If you know more, please let us know.     
Angela McDonagh - RIP: Sadly passed away in 7th Sept 2021 from T. Lundy. Originally from Ballaghadereen, Co. Roscommon, Angelia was living in Perth, Western Australia when she sadly passed away.      

 

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In Loving Memory of Grant Gallagher: Sept. 21, 1990 - Nov. 18, 2006