By Anastasia Pantsios
Any list of the the most influential people in Cleveland rock & roll, no matter how long or short, would have to include Henry LoConti. LoConti has passed away at the age of 85.
Henry, affectionately called Hank by the legions who knew and loved him, founded the Agora in 1966 as a college hangout at Case Western Reserve. That incarnation was short-lived. The following year, it moved to its most legendary home on E. 24th near Payne Avenue, where it grew into the most influential concert club in the nation.
Finding confluence with the rise of WMMS, concert promoters Belkin Productions, and Scene Magazine, then devoted entirely to entertainment, primarily music, the Agora hosted legions of important acts as they were on the verge: Peter Frampton, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, Kiss, Pat Benatar, Boston, Meat Loaf, Todd Rundgren, Talking Heads, and U2 were among the bigger names that played the club on nights that have become legendary. Those Monday night concerts (they were rarely on any other night) were THE place for Cleveland rockers to be.
In addition, the club served as a showcase for local bands. In its early years, Sunday nights were reserved for original local bands like the Raspberries and the James Gang. But its “dance nights” also featured some of the best and biggest drawing bands in town, like Circus, Sweetleaf, Love Affair, and Magic.
The Agora was also the home of the weekly WMMS Coffeebreak Concerts, free shows that took place midday every Wednesday; a series of syndicated live rock shows and another of jazz shows; and a year-long series of “Live From the Agora” TV broadcasts in conjunction with Channel 8 that featured acts like Eddie Money, Southside Johnny, and Todd Rundgren. The Michael Stanley Band’s live album, Stage Pass, was recorded there. Bruce Springsteen played his fabled WMMS 10th anniversary show there in August 1978, long after he’d graduated to venues 10 times the size of the 1,000-capacity Agora. He started a record label and released the fourth album by Virginia-based Artful Dodger, whose main fan base was in Cleveland, after they lost their Columbia deal.
By the end of the ’70s, Henry was opening Agoras all around the country on the strength of the flagship club, eventually opening a dozen in cities like Columbus, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale.
The E. 24th Street Agora also had a downstairs club called the Mistake and later the Pop Shop, where many local bands – from folkies to metal bands — honed their chops. Even that smaller club was visited by some legends, such as the Velvet Underground’s Nico, who played there in 1980.
The Agora suffered a minor fire in 1984 and never reopened at E. 24th due to issues with its landlord, Cleveland State University.It reopened at E. 50th and Euclid on October 3, 1986 with a concert by Quiet Riot, in what had formerly been the WHK Auditorium and originally a live theater dating back to the early 20th century. That building still functions as the Agora, currently run by the former Peabody’s staff.
In 2001, Henry donated a significant collection of Agora-related materials to the Western Reserve Historical Society, celebrated with a big party at the Crawford Auto & Aviation Museum that fall. He remained engaged in music until the end, determined to keep the legacy of the club going.
Mostly, Henry will be remembered by the thousands of people whose paths he crossed as someone who had a good heart, who would go out of his way to help almost anyone, and who never engaged in the underhanded and deceitful tactics so prevalent in the music business. In a scene riddled with scam artists, he was a straight shooter. He jumpstarted the careers not only of musicians, but also his legendary crew members the “Rowdy Roadies,” and the people who worked in booking, promotions, and ticketing in his office. Many still work in the music business today.
He will be deeply missed by the thousands of people who crossed his path. There was no one else like him.
Visiting hours are 2-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Friday, July 11 at the Vodrazka Funeral Home, 6505 Brecksville Rd, Independence. Services are at St. Michael Roman Catholic Church, 6540 Brecksville Road, Independence at 10am Saturday July 12.
Photo of Henry LoConti with Bill Paliselli of Artful Dodge at Artful Dodge’s 2006 reunion concert at the Agora by Anastasia Pantsios