The death of concert promoter Walt English leaves a potential void in the schedule at Warren Community Amphitheatre.

English's company, The Summit Entertainment, staged classic rock tribute shows at the downtown venue the last three summers.

Warren Mayor Michael O'Brien said English already had two dates scheduled for 2010, and O'Brien expected to meet with English some time before Christmas to discuss the rest of the summer season.

English was planning on mixing more actual classic rock acts with the tribute bands that dominated the schedule in past years.

In an e-mail sent in September to the Downtown Warren Business Association, English wrote, ''We will be bringing Rare Earth, Big Brother & the Holding Company, The Young Rascals and a couple more 'real' recording artists.''

He also wrote that the tribute bands that had drawn big crowds in the past - Almost Queen (Queen), 7 Bridges (The Eagles), Satisfaction (The Rolling Stones) and Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd) - would be returning in 2010.

No one knows yet whether English's wife, Rebecca, will continue the business, but O'Brien and some downtown business owners hope the series continues.

Ken Haidaris, co-owner of Sunrise Inn and the sponsor of several shows last summer, said, ''Last year we really turned a corner, and next year was going to be unbelievable ... I am going to try to get involved. I'd like to be involved in the evolution (of the concert series) to the next level.''

As a downtown business owner, Marty Cohen of Mickey's Army-Navy Store didn't see much difference in his store traffic due to the concerts up the street. But he had a different connection to English. Cohen plays drums in the Beatles tribute band Get Back, and English was the band's agent for the last two years.

''He was a musician himself,'' Cohen said. ''He's been on both sides. He was a kind man, not a typical agent. People liked him. He didn't make promises he couldn't keep. He was a man of his word at all levels.''

Haidaris agreed.

''In all my dealings with Walt, any time he gave his word, he kept his word,'' he said. ''In this business world, that was a rarity.''

O'Brien said he believes the venue will be attractive to another promoter.

''This amphitheater concert series was growing every year,'' O'Brien said. ''Even though we charged a nominal fee (in 2009), we still experienced great crowds ... I'm positive that in talking with other promoters and given the track record of attendance, they'll be amenable to doing concerts there.''

English said he lost money in 2008, primarily because beer sales in Warren lagged behind those in Cuyahoga Falls, where he staged a similar concert series on Friday nights. Last year the series failed to attract the sponsorship money it received in its first year, leading English to charge an admission fee (initially $2 and raised to $3 at mid-season).

English, 61, died Monday at his home in Cuyahoga Falls from a gunshot wound. An official ruling hasn't been issued, but the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office said the death is believed to be a suicide.