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Legendary Cleveland Agora club owner Hank LoConti
has died, leaves behind world-renowned legacy
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Henry "Hank" LoConti Sr., founder
of the legendary Agora concert club and a driving force in rock 'n'
roll's rise to greatness, died Tuesday. He was 85.
LoConti, who passed away in his home in Independence, battled
lymphoma.
To the end, he retained the spirit and cheer that endeared him to
thousands. Among those are dozens of names that reside in the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, as well as the music libraries and
memories of generations of Clevelanders.
Opened in 1966, the Agora was a jumping-off point for countless
careers. Yes, there is Bruce Springsteen, whose Agora shows are a
thing of legend. But the club also played host to a wide array of acts
on the rise, from KISS to Judas Priest to Metallica to U2, the Clash,
Gang of Four, Southside Johnny and AC/DC.
The list is endless and varied. The Agora was never typecast – LoConti
was too open-minded and imaginative for such a thing.
"Hank was a visionary and a futurist who could see the potential in
things," said friend John Gorman, who promoted shows with LoConti
while working at WMMS-FM/100.7. "The Agora was the first place for
bands that would go on to become famous."
Gorman last saw LoConti a week ago, in his home.
"He was such a sharp guy, to the end," said Gorman. "He never changed
as a person."
LoConti took great pride in the Agora name and sought to protect its
legacy, which is renowned around the world.
"The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame might be the first association people
around the world have with Cleveland," says Bill Peters, owner of the
Cleveland metal label Auburn Records and a DJ at WJCU-FM/88.7. "But
the Cleveland Agora is right up there with music fans. I always have
friends from Germany ask me about the legendary Agora and ask me to
take them there when they come to visit. It's one of the most iconic
names in music."
Countless recordings of concerts from the club enjoyed a new life in
the Internet and YouTube era, turning new generations of music fans on
to the Agora -- especially that glowing sign on the wall behind the
stage that said: You are here, where rock 'n' roll history is being
created.
Few clubs around the country recorded concerts in the 1970s, when the
Agora helped shape the tastes and lifestyles of Clevelanders with
shows such as the WMMS Coffeebreak Concert Series.
As AC/DC sang, "It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n'
roll." Hank LoConti made the distance a lot easier and a good deal
shorter.
"Hank was always interested in doing new things," says Gorman, who met
LoConti in 1973. "Few clubs were even open on Mondays, but Hank saw it
as a great day to try something different – because no one else was
doing it."
The Coffeebreak Concert took it one further, hosting concerts and
broadcasting them to the entire area -- starting at 11 a.m.
Wednesdays.
"Who else but Hank," said Gorman. "He was part of a well-oiled machine
that made Cleveland ground zero for rock 'n' roll."
LoConti did something else that few clubs did: He took the brand on
the road. In the 1970s, he opened 12 more Agora concert clubs around
the country, from Tampa to Houston to Painesville to Youngstown.
The Cleveland location has long been the only Agora club still in
operation. Plans are to keep it going, says Chris Zitterbart, who has
operated the Cleveland Agora with LoConti since November.
"We set up a company together to operate the Agora when Peabody's
closed and I moved in here," say Zitterbart, former owner of Peabody's
Concert Club. "The Agora will keep on going."
LoConti wouldn't want it any other way. Whenever I spoke with him
about the Agora or its role in Cleveland, he displayed pride for its
role in breaking music -- and never revealed even the slightest hint
that he was tired of doing it.
"He was the same guy that I first knew in the late 1960s," said
longtime concert promoter Jules Belkin. "He had a great love for the
music business and for trying to make things happen in Cleveland."
"He was one of the great music icons in the business for 50 years,"
added Belkin. "There was this aura around Hank that will never be
duplicated."
As AC/DC sang, "It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n'
roll." Hank LoConti made the distance a lot easier and a good deal
shorter.
LoConti is survived by 11 of his 12 children and his wife Bonita
"Bonnie" LoConti.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Vodrazka Funeral Home, 6505
Brecksville Rd, Independence, 216-524-3900. Visiting hours are 2-4
p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Friday. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at
St. Michael Roman Catholic Church, 6540 Brecksville Road,
Independence. |
