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Remembering Cleveland music impresario Hank LoConti
The 85-year-old helped break acts like Bruce Springsteen, KISS and Dire Straits
by WKSU's VIVIAN GOODMAN


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Vivian Goodman
 
Hank LoConti is remembered as a man with great vision and ideas by his friend and colleague, Jon Gorman
Courtesy of Center for Public History + Digital Humanities
Cleveland Agora founder Hank LoConti died this morning at age 85. He founded the rock club in 1966, and at one point ran dozens of Agoras throughout the country.

Throughout the 1970s and 80s, legendary radio station WMMS partnered with the Agora for the “Coffeebreak Concerts” and other live broadcasts each week. Former Program Director Jon Gorman had almost daily conversations with LoConti for years, and fondly remembers his friend and colleague.
Remembering Cleveland music impresario Hank LoConti

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That’s Jon Gorman, former Program Director at WMMS radio, remembering Agora founder Hank LoConti, who passed away today at age 85.

In 2012, LoConti donated his club to a non-profit as the cornerstone of the Penn Square redevelopment project at Euclid and E. 55th Street.

One of Hank LoConti’s most famous shows was a 1978 concert by Bruce Springsteen, celebrating the 10th Anniversary of WMMS.
 
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