Sat 7/13 @ noon-3PM
A sign of how dominant rock radio station WMMS-FM was in northeast Ohio during its 70s and 80s glory years is that fans of a certain age still covet souvenirs that reflect the station and the bands it played (and often broke national) back then.
Last year, Annika’s Event Center in Grafton in Lorain County hosted a Buzzard Bash featuring David Helton, the artist who created the station’s signature Buzzard mascot. It was mobbed, a huge success. So it’s doing an encore event to celebrate the 50thanniversary of the creation of the signature Buzzard, a group creation of program director John Gorman and air personality Denny Sanders, and Helton, the artist who brought their idea to life.
Helton will be making the trip to Cleveland from Tennessee where he’s originally from and now lives and works (he arrived in Cleveland in 1974 to work for American Greetings), and Gorman will be there with station memorabilia and great stories to tell. Not only that but both will be signing a brand-new book called The Buzzard Archives Vol. 1, featuring classic WMMS ads from the 70s and 80s designed by Helton, with commentary by Gorman that puts them into context and brings back the era of the ferocious competitive spirit that made WMMS one of the most influential stations in the country.
The Buzzard Market will feature items such as T-shirts, stickers, postcards, pennants and more, and there will be surprise guests. One of them isn’t a surprise to us: it’s legendary music photographer and CoolCleveland editor Anastasia Pantsios, who will be bringing her photos of the golden age of Cleveland rock & roll and her book Girls to the Front: 40 Years of Women in Rock, based on her 2017 Rock Hall show.
Each $5 admission includes Buzzard cake and ice cream, a limited-edition Buzzard sticker, and the chance to win one of ten original drawing Helton will be doing on the spot.
Annika’s Event Center is at 36709 Royalton Road, Grafton. For more information call 440-315-1014.
