On Saturday, April 14, Michael Waggoner, 802 Toyota Sales Assistant, was inducted into the Kansas City Music Hall of Fame for his long list of achievements in the music business. Michael Waggoner may be humble about his past but he has quite a musical history. Read more below. 

Michael Waggoner, right, being inducted into the Kansas City Hall Of Fame, 2018

Michael Waggoner

Michael in the recording studio (1970’s)

Michael moved to Kansas City from Minneapolis, MN, in 1963. As a musician he quickly established himself locally, playing in such notable bands as The Galaxies, The Outcasts, The Chontels, 19th Century Sound Affair, London Wood & Morningstar. During this time he also worked in retail music for Jenkins, Corinth Baldwin Music, and Music World. In 1968, he formed the booking agency New Sound Projections. Still playing with Morningstar, they released a single on Lion Records in 1969 which reached the 40 charts on stations in Kansas City and Columbia. Morningstar became the first band from Kansas City invited to perform at Filmore East, New York City in January of 1970.

Michael produced his first concert in 1969 with Led Zeppelin at Memorial Hall, selling out two shows. Other shows Michael produced at Memorial Hall during that time include Joe Cocker, Jethro Tull, and Fleetwood Mac concert in December of 1969, Delaney & Bonnie w/ Eric Clapton in February of 1970, and Black Sabbath in the spring of 1970.

Michael went to work for Good Karma Productions in 1972, taking over management and booking for the legendary Cowtown Ballroom that fall, producing hundreds of shows there until the facility closed in 1974. After that, he continued producing concerts at Memorial Hall, the Midland Theater, Municipal Auditorium, and Kemper Arena.  Michael Waggoner

From 1973 through 1977, Michael produced major concerts at Arrowhead Stadium, starting with Elton John in 1973 and ending with Peter Frampton in 1977. These concerts featured the likes of Black Oak Arkansas, Foghat, Kansas, The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, Rufus, Todd Rundgren, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Doobie Brothers, The Beach Boys, Chicago, ZZ Top, Jeff Beck, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Firefall, Jethro Tull, Styx, Rick Derringer, Steve Miller, Robin Trower, Rory Gallagher, and many more.

In 1977, Michael left the concert business to concentrate on managing Morningstar, who had just signed with Columbia Records, putting out two albums. When Columbia didn’t resign them, Michael decided to leave the music business and start a career in radio, beginning in 1980 at KY-102, and then KKCI in 1983. Moving to Maine in the fall of 1985, Michael continued working in the radio business as an advertising salesperson, sales manager, general manager and ended up in ownership at two radio stations in Maine. When those two radio stations were sold in 2007, Michael moved to Vermont continuing in the radio business through 2016. While being in radio station ownership in Maine, they released 3 CDs of local, original music with the proceeds going to a different charity each year. These were titled ‘Homegrown’ #1, #2, #3. Michael continued this practice in Vermont with two CDs called ‘Best of Area Code 802’, with the proceeds going to help an organization called Prevent Child Abuse Vermont. 802 Toyota also donates and supports this organization that has been working effectively to prevent child abuse and neglect through parent education, support and public awareness.

Michael continued playing music when he moved to New England in 1985. He still owns and plays a 1974 Mossman acoustic guitar.

Here is Michael with one of his THREE gold records. This particular one is for his work with the band Styx.

Michael Waggoner Gold Record for The Styx

Michael Waggoner holding his Gold Record for his work with Styx

Michael is a great asset to the 802 Toyota team and if you wish to know more about his story, feel free to stop in and meet him.