Solid show during a year held in very high regard by a large number of Deadheads. We always had the feeling, said Dan Brennan, that it was more than just a job., It was the golden era of rock and roll, said Moody. Anybody remember that one? There was this woman who was playing the bongos who literally passed out playing. WMSP - Wikiwand If you were a teenager anywhere near Montgomery in the mid-60s and early 70s, the concert scene didnt get any better than the fanfests known as the Big BAM shows. Music lovers would line up at each venue, some arriving hours in advance, then rush inside to secure their favorite general-admission seats. That's how we put together our shows. April 8, 1967: State Coliseum, Montgomery, AL with Electric Prunes, Buckinghams, Lou Christie, Brian Hyland and The Jokers, Tommy James and The Shondells, Royal Guardsmen, The Blues Magoos, The Casinos and others "WBAM presents Big Bam All-Star Spring Show" April 14, 1967: University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA with Freudian Slip The band has undergone several incarnations. They moved to LA, minus Grier whod gotten married and had a new baby and didnt want to move. They have reformed several times with different members, playing for Lee High School reunions. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that is rarely revealed within the pages of history texts. In spirited retaliation, Paul Revere and the Raiders march in lock step across the stage behind performers Jan and Dean. The Rogues recorded the 45 in February of 1966, for MBM Records, a Birmingham, Alabama label that goes back to the early '60s. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. former wcti reporters; winter village montreal; western new england university greek life; 1980 camaro z28 for sale in canada. Saw them at the University of Alabama home coming in 1978 as well. There was a little jealousy there.". 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. So many great City Stages performances: Chuck Berry (backed my some of Birmingham's finest), James Brown, Johnny Cash (right after Randy Newman! The band's management initially asked for 85 percent of the ticket proceeds or $25,000, whichever was greater, Brennan says. The Brennan kids were popular during the concert years, as you might expect, and Bartoletti says she, her four siblings and her cousins were fixtures at the WVOK shows, seated in the front row. I've got to change clothes and everything.' "It was a promotional thing for us. The Brennan Brothers were radio broadcast innovators of the 1950s and 60s, when they owned and operated powerhouse stations in Jacksonville, Chattanooga, and . Your favorite concerts in Alabama music history - al.com Thomas, joined by John Kay (solo after leaving Steppenwolf), the Grass Roots and others. "I think the story about Buckingham Nicks is pretty interesting. The show is a spin-off from MTV 's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast appeared. ", From Cobb: "Buckingham Nicks in Morgan Auditorium Tuscaloosa Alabama Fall 1973.". "We'd camp out at the door, on the steps and wait. And if we hadn't had (Hurricane Dora), we would have made a lot of money. Brennan and his wife, Clara, who handled ticketing, estimate that one-third of the tickets for any Shower of Stars datewere purchased on faith, before the lineup was ever announced. "My late husband was owner of Peace Concerts, he brought hundreds of concerts to Birmingham, all over Alabama and southeast from 1970-1975," said Shari Graye. The Other Side of Montgomery: Growing Up White in the Birthplace of the Believing they could be the next stateside version of the Beatles, they went by a variety of catchy names: The Rockin Gibraltars, the Sweet Young Uns, The Drones, The Fabulous Shades, the Gate Band. In one fell swoop, he was in hot demand. Elton John played three different years and drew over 40,000 total. Peter (Asher) and Gordon (Waller), Big BAM Show. Performers would play to more than 10,000 at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery Friday night (for Tommy James in 1967 it just seemed like 30,000), then pack-up and play three shows in Birmingham on Saturday. The Alabama band was the organizer and centerpiece, raising money for charity. big bam shows montgomery, alabama. WBAM | Brennan-Benns Broadcasting Flintstone House. We had enough left over that, for a lot of our promotions after that, people would get free raincoats.". I just went to the Coliseum for the music. Butspeaking in general terms, each also hada specialty: Bill the visionaryentrepreneur, Cyril the tech-mindedpioneer, Dan the key concert producer and a smooth, recognizable voice at WVOK. By today's standards, his solution to the latter problemseems charmingly old-school. That was a lot of money. They enjoy reminiscing about the stars, the shows and the fans who made it possible. I play music half the time, the other half Im a toilet salesman, Jones said, which means hes in wholesale plumbing with Thompson Supply Co. For Alabama radio pioneer, life was a Shower of Stars We put on a heck of a show, said Grier. It was elbow to elbow in there, remembered drummer Tommy Beavers. Four dates per year were standard -- in winter, spring, summer and fall -- and total attendance topped out at 15,000 people for each three-show stint in Birmingham. BB King's penultimate show at the Alabama (sitting but still playing and not drifting into non sequitur land). We enjoyed all the years we spent in radio, said Dan Brennan, who now owns a video production company in Birmingham. Submit a request Contact us through a specially prepared form. Paul Revere & the Raiders. In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero for many of the major events central to the civil rights movement in this country. All rights reserved (About Us). 3. "Excuse me---did I miss the ROLLING STONES STEEL WHEELS TOUR??????????????????" ", From Eric Pendergrass: "Grateful Dead BJCC April 4,5 1995.". at 3126 Jasmine Road, was built in the early 1960s by William J. "We're big on memories," Brennan says. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. . Brennan, who understands the pull of nostalgia, says he's heard similar sentiments from many Birmingham folkswho came of age at the Shower of Stars. The Rogues of Montgomery, AL cut one great rock single, "Put You Down" b/w a version of "Stormy Monday Blues". Respi Mee Sup Sabahiiat. The author recalls with fondness the casual neighborliness that existed within his community, the freedom that children enjoyed to roam and play, and the slower pace of life that prevailed. But in the stations' 1960s heyday, shows usually kicked off on Fridays inMontgomery atGarrett Coliseum and moved to Birmingham on Saturdays at Municipal Auditorium (now called Boutwell Auditorium). But it never happened. Their annual Big Bam shows, and Show of Stars were traveling medicine shows and featured Lou Christie, Roy Orbison, The Animals. go to da moon copy and paste. The Big BAM Shows. WMSP (740 AM, Sports Radio 740) is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, USA. "The Stranger album had just come out and was only beginning to get some air play. Several members still play in other bands for private parties, or solo at local restaurants, and on June 9, several members of Harmony plan a reunion show at the Blue Iguana in Prattville. (The station's nickname, "the Mighty 690," referred to its spot on the AM dial.). The Temptations and The Supremes, The TCB Tour, Auburn University, 1972. Brother Cyril Brennan, 84, was alternately chief engineer, manager, program director and music director at WBAM and also involved in lining up talent. ", From TTownTony: "You cannot even imagine the concerts played in Tuscaloosa before the BJCC was built. Brennan, now 86, introduced the Beatles at the Gator Bowlin Jacksonville, Fla., when the Fab Four played there on Sept. 11, 1964. Nov 2011 Prime Montgomery by Bob Corley - Issuu WBAM-FM - History - Former Programming and Personalities "One of my favorites was RUSH 1981 Mobile Municipal Auditorium," said tgfmiss. I said, 'Well, this is Roy's show. WVOK Shower Of Stars-Advertisements 9781603060554: The Other Side of Montgomery: Growing Up White in the BOBBY GOLDSBORO. You are free to use the above map for educational and similar purposes; if you publish it online or in print . Joni Mitchell at Tuscaloosa 1975 would be third," said jarobertson. She came back a few minutes later and absolutely blasted a massive bongo solo. "Rickwood Field, late 70's. Both concerts were sold out. I don't even think it was a sell out. Dan Brennan, center, with the Grass Roots. Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. Shower of Stars - Bhamwiki Welcome to my Nightmare in Huntsville Von Braun 1975 and KISS in 1976 at Von Braun. Chuck Berry was an intro-act, great show he put on. pigella miraculous ladybug power. They played at YMCAs, American Legion halls, private parties, and dances all over south Alabama, Panama City, Savannah, and Greenville, Miss. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that is rarely revealed within the pages of history texts. This book takes a thought-provoking, even-handed look at those days from the perspective of a typical white kid growing up in Montgomery during that . REENADED . Carl Perkins. The Turtles | Concerts Wiki | Fandom big bam shows montgomery, alabama THE 5 BEST Upcoming Concerts & Shows in Montgomery - Tripadvisor (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). Hes been in a few movies, raced sports cars and been inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. WBAM-FM /98.9 (" Bama Country 98.9 ") is a country music formatted radio station that serves the Montgomery Metropolitan Area, broadcasting on the FM band at a frequency of 98.9 MHz and licensed to Montgomery, Alabama. The audience was huge, sold out, 10,000 or more. Members: Mitch Alton (original member), Gregg Pappas, Ham Wilson, Bill Marshall , Dwight Williams, Rick Byrd, Orville Cain, Carl Tesh. Some of the concerts took place in a single location -- most often, Jacksonville. Bob Brennen gave me these. Despite her young age -- she was 7 that year -- Bartoletti felt another emotion at the Gator Bowl: extreme pride. Vocalist in Salem, Alabama 1,320 views on fandalism. The . The Big BAM was WBAM, the 50,000-watt AM radio station owned by the Brennan family, whose other Alabama station was Birminghams WVOK. Concert History of Garrett Coliseum Montgomery, Alabama, United States If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Johnny Carson wanted him on The Tonight Show.Music fans were clamoring for the single and album that featured this emotion-filled song about a man in love with his wife, who planted a . Whitwam, now in his 47th year playing music, is pleased with the makeup of their current audiences. Fans would mail their orders to the station, requesting a specific showtime, and the envelopes often included suggestions for artists they'd like to see. The Who played there. Big Bam All-Star Spring Show Setlists | setlist.fm They agreed to do it, but they were on one end of it, and the Beach Boys were on the other end of it. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The Other Side of Montgomery : Growing Up White in the Birthplace of Jones, now 59, also played school dances and armories in a group called The Drones. 0. blues show montgomery, al 2021. WBAM Big Bam Shows - YouTube The WMSP studios are located on the 3rd floor of . Nothing else necessary. We try to introduce people to music maybe they werent aware of. Signature song includes Both Sides of the Road, about Perdido Bay, written by Ham Wilson. In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero f. The Other Side of Montgomery book. "That was before he became very big. 1973(?). Many who danced the night away to the Rockin Gibraltars or who nursed a beer and smoked a cigarette listening to Harmony, recall those days with particular fondness and with nostalgia for a time that wont likely return. And didn't ever explain to the people what had happened. In fact, it's safe to say that music shows producedby the Brennans, focusing on rock 'n' roll, Top 40 pop and country, defined the concert experience for an entire generation of fans in those cities. When was the last concert at Big Bam Fall Spectacular? WBAM Big Bam Shows Remembered - YouTube I have such fond memories of coming to Alabama. In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero f. Home; My Books; Browse . In Montgomery, music was the Big Bam show put on at Garrett Coliseum by WBAM, and there I saw Neil Diamond, the Buckinghams, Tommy James and the Shondells. Big Lots Prattville: Furniture, mattress & home product store in Lead in groups were the James Gang with Joe Walsh, and a group that got booed called Frampton's Camel before Peter Frampton hit it big. WMSP (740 AM, "Sports Radio 740") is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, USA.The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC. After helping escort her safely away from an unruly crowd, she rewarded him with a big kiss. When Peter Noone left Hermans Hermits in 1971, Hermits drummer Barry Whitwam keep going, and today continues to lead his own Hermans Hermits band (as does Noone performing as Hermans Hermits starring Peter Noone). Published by at February 16, 2022. Ticket prices were never more expensive than $4.00. If possible, the Brennans liked to present the same lineup of artists in all three cities over a single weekend, offering three shows in Birmingham for the Shower of Stars, one in Montgomery for the Big BAM and one in Jacksonville for the Big APE. WBAM ~ Trax & Grooves - Blogger He founded his own company, Brennan Video Productions, in 1982and he continues to work there, transferring VHS tapes, old films and other retro footage to DVDs. Hal Hodgens of WVOK is second from left. Gobs of people have asked us when were going to do another reunion. With no sound checks between acts, group would run on stage and begin playing almost immediately. The most entertaining act? "My brother, he was always a little bit of a gambler," Brennan says. Those two days in Alabama left a lasting impression on us because it was how we measured the rest of our gigs.. In 1964 the Brennans booked the Beatles for a concert in either Legion Field in Birmingham, or Garrett Coliseum or Crampton Bowl in Montgomery. Skyping with a Hermit ", From Denniswingo: "The Grateful Dead in 1978 at the Boutwell Auditorium. With the help of Bill Moody and Cyril Brennan at WBAM, their music was played on the 100,000-watt radio station, helping the group built a following as an R&B band. The detailed map shows the US state of Alabama with boundaries, the location of the state capital Montgomery, major cities and populated places, rivers and lakes, interstate highways, principal highways, railroads and major airports. "It cost enough that we were lucky to come out with just enough and break even with it," Brennan says. "You didn't have to know anything about guitar to realize that he was one of the best ever to take the stage. We didnt play where people sat around and drank. ", From StolibGeezer: "Zevon played the Alabama twice. It was the summer after my senior year, said Grier, who was joined by Keith Brewer on bass, Bobby Dupree on drums, Rusty Crumpton on guitar, Ronnie Monroe on trumpet and Ed Sanford on keyboards. ", From shapeshiftinhmojo: "The Allman Brothers played at the National Guard Armory as both the Almond Joys and as the Allman Brothers in the 1960's as well as Tuscaloosa in the seventies when they were huge. It was a real happening thing.. And they accepted it, but we did get the total amount of the gate that came in. In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero for many of the major events central to the civil rights movement in this country. A real commercial from the 60's with announcer Bill J Moody .Exciting times as a teen.growing up in Montgomery. We made $100, remembers Grier. Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis were on the bill, said Whitwam of their first performance at Garrett Coliseum. "Elviswas an opening act," Brennan says. ", From Jeremy Don McCollough: "Guns N' Roses played the Birmingham race course, it was a muddy mess. According to Ben Flanagan's story for AL.com, the band also played in Tuscaloosa at Memorial Coliseum, now Coleman Coliseum. Im content where Im at, said Beavers, except I could lose about 80 pounds.. A story by Ben Flanagan of AL.com, looking back at concerts at the coliseum, also mentions Joplin. Lindley. Montgomery resident Mike Vickery remembers getting a friends mother to drive him and others to the WBAM station to get tickets as soon as they went on sale so we could get them near the front on the floor. On one occasion, he accompanied some female friends to the Diplomat Inn where they spotted Lou Christie sitting by the pool, a secret one of them has never told her mother to this day.. In the 1960s and early 1970s, the station sponsored a series of pop/rock concerts known as "Big BAM Shows" featuring acts ranging from Paul Revere and the Raiders, Lou Christie, and The Beach Boys to comedian Pat Paulsen. Props. Herman's Hermits. The Other Side of Montgomery - Google Books The Rockin' Rebellions won top honors - beating out 67 other bands from throughout Alabama. Readers of AL.com have plenty of ideas. ); Lynyrd Skynyrd and Black Oak Arkansas, Rickwood Field (1975); Pink Floyd, Legion Field (1994); Peter Frampton and Robin Trower, Oak Mountain (1994); Rolling Stones, Legion Field (1994); Bruce Springsteen, BJCC, 2002; and, James Brown, Jubilee CityFest Montgomery (2003). Jerry Lee Lewis. But he's sure the introduction was brief, wasting no time as Beatlemania raged. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC. show bam - enow.com - Content Results I kept going to at least one show a year through about 1968, he said. "I always had an idea about saving memories for people, and using the media that was becoming available, and that's what led me into this.". Read reviews from world's largest community for readers. . The Animals. FACIAL. 6 places sorted by traveler favorites Clear all filters 1. Dylan with Brian Setzer Orchestra opening (about 1998 ?). I was blown away. Many regulars from the Kove days brought their grown children and will likely do so again. WBAM signed on in 1953 as AM 740. The early concert didn't begin until it was time for the second one, but it was worth the wait. The station's transmitter is located in the town of Grady, Alabama. The Show That Almost Happened (It was free.) "People were going crazy, and you couldn't hear anything because the girls were screaming so loud," Bartoletti says. He remembers the Kove days with Harvest/Harmony fondly, not only for the bands music but the people who came to see them. The Young Rascals. That one was epic alright, unlike any other! "He said, 'Dan, I like to play for you here in town, but I don't want you to ever book me on a show like this again. The eruption from the crowd was louder than expected but the lights were so blinding, we could not see the audience. Were a dance band.. The Captain and Tennille Show became a network hit and featured guest stars such as John Travolta, Don Knotts, The Pointer Sisters, and Red Foxx. WBAM-FM - Wikipedia I also went to one free concert on the old Quad (Woods Hall) in the late 60s that featured Linda Ronstadt (backed up by the Eagles). Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. "(Listeners) would tell us what they liked and didn't like. I said, 'Elvis, I'm sorry, but we can't accommodate you, because it is his show.' Though theyve had other jobs over the years, neither Jones nor Beavers have stopped playing music. We get young people, folks our age, and older folks, he said proudly. Several others mentioned seeing the Rolling Stones in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. WMSP is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Their big prize was three VOX . Dan'sbrother, Cyril Brennan, who lived in Montgomery, held several titles during his tenure at WBAM: chief engineer, station manager and program director among them. +40 (724) 307.599 Lu - Vi: 9:00 - 18:00; big bam shows montgomery, alabama "There was a little office backstage, and I remember seeing my father and uncles back there with a security guard," Bartoletti says. At this point, Mick Jagger and his pals were poised to release"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," their first international smash. Tickets were priced at$1.50-$5.50 per show, Brennan says, and artists' fees usually ran about $300-$7,500 per act. Pitiful (Otis Redding) sound so much better with real horns.. Dan Brennan recalls the reaction from performers. For more, visit Rich's YouTube Channel . TheRolling Stones were closing the gap quickly, though, with a tougher, bluesier songbook that included "The Last Time," "Play With Fire" and "Time Is On My Side." Tommy James Interview: Singer Discusses His Autobiography 'Me, the Mob The Fabulous Shades "It didn't matter. WMSP - Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core So it was a deliberate attempt to identify with people, and to recognize that they were requesting these songs. The WMAQ slogan came from a contest where winners would have to answer the phone "WMAQ's gonna make me rich," so you had people using the phrase anytime. nellson nutraceutical revenue; arlington catholic basketball roster; jack cawood and suzy hunt; lawn vacuum for acorns rental. We only heard them. The Louvin Brothers. Oxford American | He Made You Look into the Abyss and Like It The stage was an immense rectangle glutted with scaffolding and hundreds of klieg lights and a sound system on a board that looked like the skyline of New York at night. Later acts included the Beach Boys, the Animals, the Dave Clark Five, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Tommy James and the Shondells and the perennial Montgomery favorite, Lou Christie. "It was quite a thing.". Iron Butterfly. The capsule was opened during a ceremony December 3, but a complete list of its contents were not released at the time. "Me and my girlfriends would get up at -- holy moly, 6 a.m. -- and get there long before the show ever started," said Connie Peek, a former Shower of Stars regular, during a 2003 interview with The Birmingham News. Whitwam remembers little of that show, but subsequent performances are crystal clear. The Fab Four wouldnt play to segregated audiences, and at that time this was the case in Alabama. I think we had at least 15,000-16,000 people there. WBAM FM - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia Alicia McLeod - Vocals. ", From estevev: "Of the ones I attended, the most memorable ones were -- Ike and Tina Turner Review, Plush Horse, (1974? "We never had a flop," Brennan says, "but we had some shows that were a little bit bigger than others. "Hendrix, Joplin, the Who, Elvis, Dylan all played in Tuscaloosa," said Jeremy Don McCollough. He also helped to choose and line up some of the concert talent. Can you say Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?". Any of the Yes shows in Birmingham! HOW COME PAUL GODDARD PUSHES HIS GLASSES UP THE BRIDGE OF HIS NOSE? [2] Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning to sports talk under the WMSP callsign in 1995. I can sing as good or better now than I did then, said Grier. Big Bam All-Star Spring Show Setlists Apr 8 1967 Date Saturday, April 8, 1967 Venue Garrett Coliseum, Montgomery, AL, USA So far there are setlists of 9 gigs Saturday, April 8, 1967 Garrett Coliseum, Montgomery, AL Blues Magoos Brian Hyland Lou Christie The Buckinghams The Casinos The Electric Prunes The Royal Guardsmen The Turtles Capital Cool. Many of the artists told me these were the biggest shows theyd ever done.. (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). "Two guitars and a stool. Our four-piece horn section sets us apart, said Key. We mostly had a lot of fun., They were especially known for their James Brown-style revue, with Grier wearing a cape much like the Godfather of Soul used while singing Please, Please, Please., The group got a break in 1968 when a Hollywood producer spotted them at the Big BAM show, and wanted to sign them to a recording contract. The Carpenters. View the Full Page. Classics such as Midnight Hour, (Wilson Pickett), Knock on Wood (Eddie Floyd), and Mr. They had the Stones in about 1963-64, with Brian Jones before he died. Neil Diamond. For fans, half the fun was trying for a glimpse of the stars at their hotel or coming to and from the coliseum. The song actually topped the charts on WBAM in Montgomery, AL for a few weeks which gave us introductions to the British Invasion groups coming through Montgomery for the Big BAM shows held at the Coliseum for many years, like The Who, The Hollies, The Blues Magoos, The Kinks, and many more including American groups like The Beach Boys, The .
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