John Flynn: Rehoboth’s Very Own Piano Man
Once you meet John Flynn, and watch as he entertains the crowd with his vocal and piano skills, bringing smiles and joy to all around, it seems only fitting to discover that he was born in the City of Brotherly Love—Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
John’s father worked for the Reading Railroad, his mother for St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. She later sold real estate in South Jersey after the family relocated to Maple Shade, when John was eight years old.
When he was 11, John knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life: play music...so lessons began.
“Music was always in our home,” John said. “We always had a piano. Both my mother and father loved to sing, and my mom sang in the church choir. One of my fondest memories is sitting in church right by the organist so I could see my mother singing and watch the organist work the pedals and the keyboard.”
Two of John’s sisters also were musically inclined, and he eventually ended up in a band with sister Trish. He first spent three years in a combo that took first place in his senior year talent show.
After graduating from Maple Shade High School, John attended Burlington County College, supporting himself by working in his uncle’s delicatessen. After one year of college, John determined that a degree was not “in the cards”; in addition, his current band, Reflexion, was about to sign with an agency and play music full-time.
Afraid to tell his parents that he had dropped out, John did what any 18-year old would do: he continued to leave the house every day to “go to class” and continued to work at his uncle’s deli “after class.” Eventually his parents found out, and, according to John, “they were so supportive and told me that, if music is what you want to do, now is the time to do it.” Thus began a 10-year run with Reflexion, playing throughout the Pennsylvania and New Jersey areas.
In 1987 the band broke up, and John decided to try something different. He auditioned for a band in need of a lead vocalist, won the audition, and began the next phase of his career as front-man for several bands throughout the Philadelphia and Bucks County, Pennsylvania areas. By 1990, he made yet another career change, deciding he needed a “day” job, so he became a bartender, first at Steak & Ale in South Jersey, then in 1995 at the 12th Air Command Restaurant in Philadelphia.
After finishing his bar shift, John would stroll around the corner to Tavern on Camac, where he would sit at the piano and “noodle around” with some tunes. The owner hired him, at first for two nights a week, then five nights in several venues. Bartending? Those days were over!
“Well how did you get to Rehoboth?” I asked.
“In 2000 I was playing at a place in Philly called Key West,” said John. “My friend Hedda brought the owners of the former Harlow’s in Rehoboth (later Partner’s, now Rigby’s) to see me in Philly.”
According to John, the owner said “you have to come to Rehoboth.”
“I was a little worried because I thought no one’s going to come see me play in Rehoboth, they don’t know me.”
After playing at Harlow’s during the summer of 2000, then later at Partner’s, John decided to make a leap of faith and move to Rehoboth Beach permanently where he met Billy Toner, his significant other, in 2006.
These days, John never has to worry about people coming to see him, because he always draws a crowd. You can see him perform Monday at Murph’s with Viki Dee, Tuesday at Aqua by himself, Wednesday and Saturday at Murph’s with Matthew Kenworthy and the “Dueling Pianos” show, Thursday with Holly Lane at Café Azafran, and on Sunday for brunch at Blue Moon.
John has several influences who inspire him. “Number one, my family. My parents and my sisters, for their encouragement and lessons, for always having music in the house. Also my friend and fellow ‘Dueling Pianist’ Matthew Kenworthy, his talent and passion inspires me every gig. I’m also inspired by all the local friends, musicians, CAMP Rehoboth Chorus members who support not only me but all live music in Rehoboth, I could not do this without you.”
John’s mission is simply to make people happy with music. “One night I was playing and at the end of the night I found a note in my tip jar, and it read: ‘Hi, I recently was laid off as a college president. I came to Rehoboth to think about what’s next. Your music took me to many places and the past, and made me realize I get to create the future—so many possibilities! Thank you.’ I still have that note, it made me cry, and I hope that every time I play I can make someone’s day brighter.”
Yes, John, you do make everyone’s day brighter—and we are lucky to have you at the beach!