When it all began: 1958, Mike Waggoner & the Bops
Background
It's now official: I have retired from the sax due to a variety of physical and health issues that limits my ability to blow the horn without exhaustion. I made it to 83; and I made my mark in the Minnesota music scene and will always be remembered as the “Godfather of Growl”, in reference to my unique bright, aggressive, edgy tone. I am a veteran "throwback, old school" rock and blues tenor sax player from the Twin Cities of Minnesota specializing in blues, blues rock, rockabilly and R&B. I have played with a wide variety of blues based bands in and around the Twin Cities. I cut my teeth playing early rock, rockabilly and surf rock in the late '50's progressing to classic rock, R & B and blues. And in 2004, after a LONG hiatus to raise a family and build/run a few businesses , I retired from the business world and returned to my horn! I've always concentrated and put special emphasis on tone; my forte has been my distinctive/signature sound - patterned after my mentor and friend, the late, great Clarence Clemons and blues legend Eddie Shaw - incorporating a lot of growl and a bright, aggressive, edgy tone. I was also influenced by the Rolling Stone's Bobby Keys and Michael "Tunes" Antunes of Eddie & the Cruisers fame. It's been a great ride.. So many memories - my businesses were successful, but they didn't gave me the level of joy and excitement I got from the horn.
