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Morning Becomes Eclectic

Throwback Session: Frank Emilio Flynn live on MBE in 2001

Novena Carmel
Novena Carmel
Hand-Picked Music Indie / AltSoul / Funk
Frank Emilio Flynn was a giant of Cuban music — recording for Blue Note Records — and KCRW was lucky enough to host him for a very special Morning Becomes Eclectic live session.
Frank Emilio Flynn was a giant of Cuban music — recording for Blue Note Records — and KCRW was lucky enough to host him for a very special Morning Becomes Eclectic live session.
Jul 30, 2020

Frank Emilio Flynn (1921-2001) was a giant of Cuban music. We were so lucky to get him into the KCRW studio back in 2001, only because a relative of his worked at SMC and let us know he was in town. Flynn was born in 1921 to a Cuban mother and American father and was blinded by a botched procedure at birth. Despite that, he was a child piano prodigy and won a big contest at 13. He completed piano studies at a Cuban music school for the blind.

Flynn soon rose to the top of young Cuban pianists, excelling in danzón — a cuban musical dance style — and the filin music scene, a popular song style in the 1940’s. He later recorded with greats such as Francisco Fellove and the Conjunto Casino. One of his last albums came in 1999, “Ancestral Reflections,” for Blue Note records. That record blew me away, so I was thrilled to have him in the studio in 2001. I loved his economic style, harmonies, and melodic inventions. We pulled together an all-star group to honor him in the studio that day so long ago.

Enjoy this very special session.

Check out more KCRW Throwback Sessions:

King Krule live on MBE in 2013Femi Kuti live on MBE in 2011

Femi Kuti live on MBE in 2011Jimmy Cliff live on MBE in 2012

Jimmy Cliff live on MBE in 2012Orbital live on MBE in 2012

Orbital live on MBE in 2012Cymande live on MBE in 2016

Cymande live on MBE in 2016The Internet live on MBE in 2015

The Internet live on MBE in 2015Hot 8 Brass Band live on MBE in 2017

Hot 8 Brass Band live on MBE in 2017Laura Mvula live on MBE in 2013

Laura Mvula live on MBE in 2013John Legend’s Apogee Session in 2014

John Legend’s Apogee Session in 2014Café Tacvba live on MBE in 1996

Café Tacvba live on MBE in 1996Lykke Li live on MBE in 2011

Lykke Li live on MBE in 2011Moby live on MBE in 1999

Moby live on MBE in 1999Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings live on MBE in 2014

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings live on MBE in 2014Animal Collective live on MBE in 2016

Animal Collective live on MBE in 2016Marlon Williams live on MBE in 2018

Marlon Williams live on MBE in 2018Khruangbin live on MBE in 2018

Show Credits

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Tom Schnabel

    host of KCRW’s Rhythm Planet

  • KCRW placeholder

    Mary Chellamy

    Music Promotions Coordinator

  • KCRW placeholder

    Stephanie Barbosa

    Executive Music Assistant / Producer for Metropolis, 'Find, Share, Rewind'

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