Wild Stories from WMMS Coffee Break Concerts

Storytellers: John Gorman, Denny Sanders, & Matt "The Cat" Lapczynski

 
 
 
 

Doors open at 5:00pm, with the storytelling beginning promptly at 7:00pm

• Weekly series combining great food with great stories about Cleveland’s past
• FREE ADMISSION – NO COVER CHARGE
• In addition to our regular menu, we will be offering affordable specials on these nights

Story topic this week…

Wild Stories from WMMS Coffee Break Concerts
Step into one of Cleveland’s most legendary music moments – the WMMS Coffee Break Concerts – featuring stories and insights from people who were there. John Gorman, Denny Sanders, and Matt “The Cat” Lapczynski share the stage for this event. Denny auditioned performers for the weekly Coffee Break Concerts, John and Matt were broadcasters and Matt also hosted the weekly midday performances.

The Coffee Break Concerts hosted many big names like John Mellencamp, U2, Bryan Adams, Cyndi Lauper, Quiet Riot and more. Whether you lived through the buzz of WMMS on the radio or want to discover why these concerts became legendary, this storyteller night is the place to be – free, fun, and full of the stories that made Cleveland rock.

John Gorman Bio

John Gorman began his broadcasting career operating a pirate radio station from the attic of his family’s South Boston home in 1962. In 1973 he moved to Cleveland to join WMMS, a small, free-form FM station which he would help turn into one of the most popular and influential rock stations in the country. Following his 13 years at WMMS and WHK, Gorman started WNCX/Cleveland. He formed a national consultancy for radio stations and program syndicators before joining WMJI/Cleveland and taking them to the top in ratings and revenue. He became Vice President of Programming for their parent company, OmniAmerica’s radio chain. In 2007, Gorman’s book, The Buzzard, a memoir of his years with WMMS was released, which became a regional number one bestselling book. In 2024, the 50th Anniversary of the introduction of the WMMS Buzzard mascot, John Gorman partnered with artist David Helton on his second WMMS book, Buzzard Archives, Vol. 1 – Advertising, featuring the history of the WMMS Buzzard and how it was used in promotion and marketing for the station. In 2014, Gorman formed WOW Media, with the intent of broadcasting radio on the Internet. The following year, Gorman debuted his first station, oWOW, an adult contemporary rock station (billed as “Timeless Rock” for the 45-plus demographic), which had a six-year run but ceased broadcasting due to advertising losses during the pandemic. Gorman is currently working on Gray Panther Media, a non-profit online broadcast service for seniors.

Denny Sanders Bio

Denny Sanders made his on air debut in 1968 while still in high school. He worked at WBCn and WNTN in Boston before moving to Cleveland to work at WMMS as an on air personality and program director. He went on to work for WNCX and WMJI. He was awarded an Armstrong Award for broadcast excellence in 1977.

Matt “The Cat” Lapczynski Bio

Born in Belgium, but raised in Cleveland and Maple Heights, Matt “The Cat” Lapczynski was a radio fan from an early age. As a kid he was part of a sophisticated bootleg radio station in his neighborhood…until the FCC shut it down. Matt was part of the early days at Cleveland State University’s radio operation that only broadcast to the cafeteria, but soon after he got in on the ground floor of WMMS during its eventual transition to the Buzzard. Over the next twenty years Matt did mostly middays and hosted the weekly “Coffee Break Concerts”, likely introducing more concerts than anyone in Cleveland history. Matt remains one of the most popular air personalities from WMMS’ fifty year history.
 

The goal of the Cleveland Stories Dinner Party is to bring to life some of the fun, interesting stories about Cleveland’s past – from sports, to rock ‘n roll, to Millionaire’s Row, — the series will focus on tidbits from Cleveland’s past that will really thrill the audience. The Music Box is presenting this series in partnership with the Western Reserve Historical Society’s new Cleveland History Center. We think the Cleveland History Center is one of the most important museums in Cleveland. An unknown gem that Clevelanders should know more about, and support. It is the only museum in Cleveland dedicated to preserving and documenting the history of Cleveland. The Cleveland History Center includes two mansions, the Crawford Auto Aviation Museum, Chisholm Halle Costume Wing, Research Library, Kidzibits Hands-On Gallery, rotating exhibitions, and the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel.

See all Cleveland Stories dates here.