James R. Flynn (songwriter)

Jim Flynn (March 24, 1938 – May 8, 2019) was an American country music songwriter.

Flyn joined the United States Army and was part of "Operation Gyroscope" deployed to Germany as part of the Cold War efforts. As a civilian, he returned to Lewiston and worked his way through business college. Later he became a high school teacher and sports coach, then selling textbooks to public schools. Flynn began writing story songs on video sharing sites such as YouTube.

Early life

Flynn was born in Lewiston, Maine to Lawrence and Katherine (McIlroy) Flynn. He is the fourth of five sons. He grew up in Monmouth, Maine and Lewiston, where he was a member of a high school choral group. In 1956, Flynn joined the United States Army. He was part of "Operation Gyroscope", and ultimately was deployed to Germany as part of the Cold War efforts of post-World War II. Flynn served as a radio operator. In 1957, he took part in a quartet known as "''Tune Toppers''" that enjoyed moderate success and was featured in the ''10th Infantry Division Band and Chorus'' in Würzburg. The Band and Chorus was disbanded in early 1958 and Flynn was honorably discharged in June 1959, three years after his enlistment.

As a civilian, Flynn returned to Lewiston and worked his way through business college, at what was then called the "''Auburn Maine School of Commerce''." Flynn planned to become a business education teacher. While in college, Flynn worked as a DJ at WLAM, Lewiston-Auburn, Maine. After three years at the Auburn Maine School of Commerce, Flynn transferred his credits to Husson College in Bangor, Maine. Flynn graduated from Husson in 1964 with a bachelor's degree in business education. With his degree, he became a high school teacher and sports coach. In 1965, a new revised GI Bill was passed, and Flynn earned a master's degree in secondary school administration from the University of Southern Maine, Portland- Gorham campus, in 1974.

He left school teaching when he was offered a job by Southwestern Publishing selling textbooks to public schools in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts.

Songwriting career

Flynn was known in the New England country music circle for his songwriting. Flynn wrote his first song in 1960. It was recorded by a group called "The Citations." Flynn received his first songwriting contract from Jimmie Davis, former governor of Louisiana and a member of both the "Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum" and the "Country Music Songwriters Hall of Fame." Davis did not record Flynn's song, but his encouragement motivated Flynn to keep writing. Gene Hooper cut one of Flynn's songs in 1974. The song was called ''"Caroline Stood by Me,"'' and it became a "pick hit of the week" on Maine's biggest country music station, WPOR. Since then, there have been many cuts of Flynn's songs by various artists, mainly the country genre. Flynn's writing skill has been recognized by many local and national news organizations. Flynn's song, "Time I Change My Name to Hank,", stayed on the ''European Country Music Charts'' for sixteen weeks in 2005.
Flynn was affiliated with BMI and registered a number of his songs with them.

Philosophy

Flynn's philosophy was that he was a "small frog in a small pond," and he found enjoyment in knowing people were enjoying his music. On video sharing sites such as YouTube, Flynn's songs have found moderate success, having been played over 500,000 times, as of December 2011. Flynn's songs are played regularly by various artists on independent country stations.

Flynn enjoyed writing story songs, and songs that pull the listener in. The song he believed to be his best is "MegaFlight," which discuses how it would be if it where possible to visit lost relatives and friends in heaven. The song tells the story of a man who was married to a woman that died in childbirth. In the song, the unnamed man goes to an airport to inquire about purchasing a jet ticket to heaven for him and his young child. Flynn also wrote songs in other styles, such as "The Ballad of L.L. Bean".

Awards and achievements

Flynn was noted for his song writing ability. In the 2005 Down East Country Music (DECMA) awards, he won first place in the "Best Folk Songwriter" category for the song "The Ballad of L.L. Bean", and took second place in two other songwriting categories. In 2006 he wrote a song titled, "The Opening Act," which later became the title track to child performer Brian Wardwell's first album. At the DECMA "Legends Show", Flynn was awarded a Founders Award for his efforts in behalf of the Maine country music community.

Notes and references

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flynn, Jim
Songwriters from Maine
1938 births
People from Lewiston, Maine
Living people
Musicians from Maine
United States Army soldiers
Husson University alumni
Schoolteachers from Maine
People from Monmouth, Maine