Brian Flynn, was a talented and popular guitar musician who had made Cabo San Lucas and Mexico his home for more than 30 years. On Cinco de Mayo 2015, Brian married the love of his life, Angelica Cruz-Flynn. Together, they raised Brian’s youngest daughter Sydney Flynn and Angelica’s baby girl around the same age, Kendra Cruz. Theirs was truly a long-lasting love story. They adored and cared for each other from the beginning.
When they were married Angelica took over as his manager, booking events and tours all over Los Cabos, Colorado and Mexico City. It was through her diligent work in promoting Brian and his music that they met so many musicians all over Mexico. Brian was already popular in Colorado and later gained more recognition after his performances in Canada.
They were both, very warm, kind, humble and generous individuals whose friendly and loving personalities only enriched who they were as a couple.
Brian played at different times with Sammy Hagar, Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, Ralph Dinosaur and The Fabulous Volcanoes, Loverboy, Molly Hatchet, The Southern Rock Allstars, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Drifters, The Platters, Gatemouth Brown, Son Seals, Delbert McClinton and Gregg Allman, among others.
Brian’s guitar playing talent is what landed him in the Mexico Musicians Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. An induction the Flynn family celebrated together in the Nation’s CDMX Capitol.
When fellow musician and guitarist Felix Figueroa Agundez passed away, Brian Flynn said, “Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day”. It was a wonderful sendoff for the amazing Felix Figueroa, which applies to Brian and his beautiful wife Angelica, who passed away after a long battle with cancer. Rest peacefully my friend, hope you enjoyed it,” said Flynn, whose touching words are what everyone who loved and cherished him have been feeling since he too was called away after dealing with his own various health issues for the past few years.
Brian is survived by his mother, two sisters, seven children, fifteen grandchildren, and four great grandchildren, as well as two sons in law, countless cousins, nieces and nephews. ”We can all be proud of how hard he fought to stick around, and grateful for the time we got with him this last year,” said his daughter Bridget Flynn-Rapps.
”He was a stand and speak up for the underdog, give you the shirt off his back, follow your passion even when it hurts bad, the show must go on, kind of man. He was a genius historian, a criminal psycologist, a pioneer for domestic violence, a relentless advocate for justice, a “Mississippi Mexican” and the poster child of a true Coloradan, an Army Vet and brat, a math teacher, police trainer, lover of ghost towns, abandoned gold mines, 4-wheel drive trails, camping and hilarious tales to confuse and frighten his kiddos. He loved rough housing and playing ball, riding his electric bike, road trips and quiz games, reading, and politics. He was possessed by an insatiable hunger for knowledge. He had a few vices and was far from perfect, but never once tried to pretend he was anything other than his authentic self. In fact, he was unapologetic about who he was. He lived well on his own wild terms, and he loved even better. He will be dearly missed but never forgotten,” added Bridget about her beloved father.
Celebrations of life will be scheduled in Colorado for family and Los Cabos celebration of Brian has tentatively been scheduled for January 25, his birth date.
”He always loved talking about the day he played on a fire truck. He was so happy. Like a 5-year-old kid, smiling the whole time,” remembered his close friend, Mariana Estrada-Tallman. ”That was the day I met him. We rode on the firetruck as he played,” added Stacey Tonita, from Penticton, British Columbia, where Brian played a few fundraisers.
”I loved sharing the stages with Brian. I was hoping for many more gigs together, but his number came up. Angélica Cruz – Flynn was calling. Love big Brian like a brother. So glad we did a couple more gigs together before he took off,” said Ashbolt Stewart of Portland, Oregon, who played with Brian at his final gig in nearby Todos Santos.
”Thank you for your music, Brian Flynn, your absence leaves an immense void. It was an honor to work with you and capture your talent in photos and videos. Thank you for believing in my work. Your passion for rock will always live in me,” said Andrea Vàzquez Rincòn of San Jose del Cabo.
”I knew why you were calling. It was a goodbye, but we didn’t say that. Instead, we talked about our family. You told me that you wanted to have Violet on stage with you. Thank you for keeping me loved as my father would have wanted. You set the bar on how you expected your daughters to be treated. To the point of threatening boyfriends. We knew you had our best interest in mind even when you were a major ash hat sometimes. I must thank you. I truly believe my obsession with music came from you. When I was little, I would brag about my rockstar Uncle Brian,” shared Jennifer Flynn Packard.
”My friend, there are no words to convey my grief. You will be missed more than any words could describe. Rest in peace, tell Angelica hello for me, I know you’d rather be there with her than here with us,” said Scott Hunt, a long-time friend of Brian from Manitou Springs, Colorado.
”I first met Brian 32 years ago in Cabo, we remained great friends, and the high point was both being members of the Mexican Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Last year he stayed with me in Canada for a month, and his health issues were obvious, eventually ending up in emergency at the hospital here in Vancouver. I will never ever forget playing together, where we had the greatest of times many many times over. The magic of performing with him all over Cabo and Colorado. My heart goes out to his daughters and his wonderful extended family and friends. He did the best he could do, and he would light up the stage with his undeniable talent and sincerity. There are so many of us that are utterly grateful to have had you in our lives, may you rock forever my fellow soldier, with all my love,” said David Stoyanoff AKA David Stone of Vancouver, British Columbia.
”Saying goodbye to wonderful people who do their best to improve the lives of others is never easy. Brian Flynn, we will miss you and your great big happy go lucky smile,” added Judi Skinner; a long time Cabo music manager.
