On Saturday, June 20, '09, 7-9 pm, Harmony House will host singer-songwriter, John Flynn, who hails from Delaware to spread his music all the way to the Texas prairie at Wildscape Acres, 10 miles north of Bonham, Texas. Read more about Flynn below, but Flynn's music is described in the words of others who know and love his music:
"John Flynn is one of a special breed of good hearted artists whose reactions to the human condition finds kind, humorous expression. God bless them.".......Kris Kristofferson
"With a poet's voice and heart tuned to justice, John Flynn's voice and songs sing for us all." ......Scott Sheldon, Sing Out! Magazine
"More than just a good songwriter, performer, and guitar player, John Flynn is a friend because he actually does the kinds of things to help make the world a little better."......Arlo Guthrie
To make reservations, call 903/583-2661 and leave the number of seats desired and your contact information (e-mail preferred). The requested donation is $15 per person, if prepaid, and $18 per person at the door. To prepay, make a check to John Flynn and send to Faye Wedell; P.O. Box 812; Bonham, TX 75418. Harmony House hosts, Faye & Scott, provide bottomless cups of coffee, tea, and punch along with goodies to enjoy at break and during the concert. An optional $1 cash donation per person helps to defray costs, and a basket for this will be located in the breakfast room.
The concert will be held indoors, but in the intimate setting of Harmony House, one is surrounded by nature's wonders....the black-eyed Susans should be blanketing the meadows!
For those who wish to partake, a Potluck Picnic will start at 6 pm. Faye & Scott will provide a variety of sausages (bratwurst, Polish, pork, beef, and chicken) on the grill, while guests are asked to bring side dishes, such as salads, vegetables, breads, & desserts. Please indicate whether you will be attending the Potluck Picnic & what you intend to bring, when making reservations.
Here are just a few facts about John Flynn to whet your appetite for his "full course" concert:
John's powerful songs of humanity and hope are deeply rooted in the traditions of Woody Guthrie and Phil Ochs. He began writing professionally in 1980 after graduating from Temple University with a degree in political science. A Billboard Magazine Top Forty country recording of his song, "Rainbows and Butterflies," by Epic recording artist, Billy Swan, established John in the heart of Nashville Music Row.
Eventually, Flynn's songs transcended the boundaries of country music, and he moved back home to Philadelphia where he continued writing with his own style. It proved successful and John's songs have been recorded by artists as diverse as Chris LeDoux, Rodney Redman, Full Frontal Folk, and Ronny Cox.
Songs that Flynn wrote for his own four children became the basis of two highly acclaimed family CDs. He was awarded the American Library Association's Notable Recording Award. John appears regularly on the Peabody Award-winning children's radio program, Kid's Corner. He works with schools and children from grades 1-12 in assemblies and creative-writing workshops.
Songwriters Monthly Review said, "John is the only artist who can make the kids giggle on one track and then move the adults to tears on the next...a powerful writer...a master of word and emotion."
Now, he has five CDs to his credit, two of which have hit the Top 20, either on the Americana charts or the Folk DJ charts. Several of his songs off his CD, Two Wolves, are featured in the Robert Corna 2008 documentary, Tiny Tears, which looks at the global epidemic of pediatric HIV/AIDS. Tiny Tears premiered at the United Nations and then screened at The Cannes Film Festival. Flynn donates his time at Camp Dreamcatcher, a safe haven for children suffering from HIV/AIDS.
In 2008, Arlo Guthrie invited John to join his post-Katrina "Train to New Orleans Tour." Profoundly affected by the city and circumstances, John wrote a searing song, "The Passunder (New Orleans)." It is featured in Not Broken, a '08 documentary of New Orleans and Katrina. John received a Shining Star Award in Hollywood for his artistry and values for that song.
Flynn continues to tour extensivley. At the '08 International Folk Alliance Conference, he joined former US Attorney General, Janet Reno, on a panel discussion about how music can lead to social change. In the new millennium, John began to write and speak on social justice issues.
He was honored to sing at the first '07 National League Eastern Division Playoff game. He regularly volunteers with a men's discussion group in a DE maximum security prison, as a part of their prison ministry.
Anthony Zuba of Boston University School of Theology said, "In song and speech, John is a gifted storyteller. His prison songs burn and soothe with faith, hope, and charity." He has been invited to join The Green Train in 2009, a nationwide train tour in support of environmental issues, with Merle Haggard in the conductor's seat. As you can see, John "walks his talk." These are just a few of the many talents and accomplishments of his career. Learn more about John Flynn and listen to his song clips by visiting his website, www.johnflynn.net.
Come fill the seats at Harmony House.....just as the stands were filled at the Phillies playoff game when John sang! We'll have a "happening" together!
"Someone with a very loud voice needs to climb a very tall building and yell this artist's praises....he's on the same level as Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin, and John Gorka."
......Indiana Online