New Angels

The NYC busker community has lost a dear friend:
Arturo Flores from Peru, who played Andean wind instruments with a few bands in the subway, was killed by a drunk driver in Astoria.
I am so sad. I lift up my eyes to the sky above Astoria and I think I can hear Arturo’s flute…

Arturo Flores

Only a couple of months ago we lost another fantastic busker, Matt Nozzolio, who used to play the Dobro in the subway. He had a heart attach while performing at a street festival in CT.

Matt Nozzolio
Matt at the MUNY audition, 2006 (he got in)

Some day it’ll be my turn to join the greatest busker orchestra ever – in the sky. Until then – I miss my friends. May they rest in peace.

5 Comments

  1. Marianne on October 21, 2008 at 8:52 pm

    This is a tragic loss, in the personal and in the musical sense. Arturo Flores, as a longtime member of the band Inca Son, played on some of the most prestigious stages in this country. He was a brilliant musician who could play the Andean flutes like nobody else I’ve ever heard. He did traditional tunes but could also improvise. He could even replicate complex rock melodies like “Stairway to Heaven” on the quena. His musical contributions can be heard on the many CD’s he recorded with Inca Son. Arturo was a modest person. I’m sure that most passersby in New York had no idea that this busker also had such impressive performing credentials.



  2. Frank on October 23, 2008 at 5:19 am

    Arturo was a great guy. Very kind and well spirited. I had the pleasure to know him for only a short time. I knew he loved to ride his bike and I did a lot of work on it. He always had a smile when he came into the shop, I saw him only a short time ago and I thought I would be seeing more of him, but now he is gone. He will be missed by many but no one will forget him. If anyone has any information on his funeral services please contact me at tonysbicycles@yahoo.com

    To his family and friends I extend my deepest condolences I know it is hard.

    Rest in peace Arturo…



  3. The Bluebird Bicycle on October 23, 2008 at 7:11 am

    Arturo Flores of Astoria, R.I.P….

    If you have information, please leave a comment. People need to know. Especially about funeral arrangements…



  4. alfredo velasquez on October 30, 2008 at 12:15 am

    Arturo Flores funeral was last thursday and sunday he was send to
    Peru.

    Arturo was a nice man and the best traditional quena player, from Peru,Andean Music loss our best representative from Peru is so painfull because he was so talent but his humility make him more
    great.

    Brother we going to miss you,God bless you.

    Alfredo Velasquez

    You can see more about Arturo in Para Chasca Gaitan Castro
    in You Tube.



  5. Naomi on December 14, 2008 at 4:00 am

    Hi. I am contacting you because I saw your blog entry about Arturo Flores.
    I did not know Arturo, but was saddened to see that another cyclist was killed
    on our streets. It sounds like he was a wonderful musician who brought much joy
    to people who heard him play.

    I volunteer with a group called Street Memorials, which installs memorials for
    cyclists and pedestrians killed in New York City. We will be installing a ghost
    bike to remember Arturo on 23rd Ave and 27th Street in Astoria. We will be
    having a memorial ride on Sunday, January 4th and plan to be at the memorial at
    12:30. I’m hoping you can reach out to others who may have known Arturo to
    let them know about the memorial and invite them to participate in ride or meet
    us in Astoria. Anyone who wants to say a few words in memory of Arturo will be
    welcome to do so.

    All details are at http://www.ghostbikes.org/node/364.

    Naomi