Good Karma in Kansas City

After honing their craft as solo folk artists and then as staff songwriters for a major record label, in 1968, Brewer and Shipley finally got the chance to record their first album on A&M Records. But the title of their album, Down In L.A., also reflected their discontent with California. So even before their debut album was finished, Michael and Tom were determined to leave L.A. and move back to the Midwest despite a newly released album and mutual friends who were starting to make it big in bands such as The Association, Buffalo Springfield, and The Byrds.

Tom described their decision, "There was a music scene built up in Kansas City, and Michael and I used to come during Christmas and it was great. There would be clouds in the sky -- you don't see clouds in L.A., just the haze. There was a significant period of time when we were essentially homeless. Then we set ourselves down with all these old friends to try and get a musical production company going."

Good Karma Productions, a Kansas City based management and production company, was formed to produce and manage founding artists Brewer & Shipley, Danny Cox, Ted Anderson, and Chet Nichols. The Ozark Mountain Daredevils became Good Karma artists a few years later.

The Good Karma offices were housed in a old three story house at 4218 Main, just across the street from 'The Vanguard' that had served as the primary Kansas City venue for Brewer & Shipley, Danny Cox and many other artists on the folk circuit including the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Steve Martin. The family communal atmosphere was evident from the beginning at the Good Karma headquarters as Michael, Tom, and Danny Cox took up residence in the three story house. Michael and office are on the first floor, Tom is on the second floor, and Danny Cox makes do in the attic.

After outgrowing the limited audiences that could be accommodated at 'The Vanguard,' the Good Karma management team bought a larger venue that held 2,000 people and founded another legendary Kansas City music venue called the Cowtown Ballroom.

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