Fraternity in Harmony: Shay and Michael Black, with Eamonn Flynn

A Benefit for Canine Companions for Independence, Nature in the City, and Young Women’s Choral Projects of SF.

Irish brothers Shay and MIchael Black from the renowned Black Family sing ballads from the Irish, Scottish and English traditions, old Dublin street songs, music hall songs, rollicking reels & joyful jigs that will have have you joining in on the choruses, interspersed with stories, jokes and humorous childhood anecdotes.

Shay and Michael are close harmony singers, with a special fondness for songs that include their audience in chorus, and many of the songs are narratives with stories. The brothers grew up in a household where singing was a normal part of daily life, and have been performig since teenagers as The Black Brothers, frequently with sisters, Mary and Frances, as The Black Family.

They are joined by rollicking pianist Eamonn Flynn, who, like the Blacks, was born into a musical family in Dublin, Ireland. He first came to prominence playing Hammond organ and piano on the 12 million selling movie soundtrack The Commitments. Now living in San Francisco, California he has gone on to record and tour worldwide with artists including Michael Franti and Spearhead, Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King, Elvin Bishop, Bernard Purdie, Grant Green Jr. Coco Montoya, Michelle Shocked, Pee Wee Ellis, Donald Harrison, Maria Muldaur, Finbar Furey, Honey Island Swamp Band, Tony Lindsay (Santana), The Black Family and a 10 year stint with Meters drummer Zigaboo Modeliste. He has played Gospel organ at multiple Bay Area churches and brought music to the public schools as part of the San Francisco Symphony’s AIMS program.  Eamonn’s original music has been placed on TV shows such as  Ugly Betty and Moonlight. In 2017 he released his first solo album of original music. Entitled “The Irish Channel” it features Eamonn on vocals and piano and reflects a unique blend of Irish and American influences. He has just released a brand new CD that we will here selections from at this show.

This concert is one in a series at the landmark Swedenborgian Church in SF benefiting 3 local causes: Nature in the City, which engages residents in butterfly, bee, and wildlife habitat restoration projects in diverse San Francisco neighborhoods; Young Womens Choral Projects of SF, which transforms girls lives through choral music education and performance; and Canine Companions for Independence which enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support. Attendees are invited to a coffee and food reception for these organizations preceding the concert in the adjacent Garden Room at 6 pm.