big bam shows montgomery, alabama

People would come night after night, said Lander, who owns Bama Lanes in Montgomery and Prattville. Men. HOW COME PAUL GODDARD PUSHES HIS GLASSES UP THE BRIDGE OF HIS NOSE? 1984 at the BJCC. ", "This is so subjective and there are way too many to pick from. "We never had a flop," Brennan says, "but we had some shows that were a little bit bigger than others. He was replaced by Johnny Townsend from Tuscaloosa, who was living with Duane and Gregg Allman in LA. That radio station had its concerts, too, dubbedJet-Fli Spectaculars, at the Soldiers &Sailors Memorial Auditorium. You are free to use the above map for educational and similar purposes; if you publish it online or in print . ", The Birmingham News file photo/Philip Barr. All rights reserved (About Us). 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 . Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis were on the bill, said Whitwam of their first performance at Garrett Coliseum. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. But the moment was indelible for one of his daughters, Debbie Brennan Bartoletti. He said, 'We're going to put both of them on.' Edgar Winter Group with the Frankenstein tour," said Rick Allen. "I didn't stay up there too long," Brennan says, laughing. "Two guitars and a stool. Because it was so big, we ran on stage as soon as we were introduced, grabbed our instruments and started playing before the applause died down. That was a lot of money. The Big BAM was WBAM, the 50,000-watt AM radio station owned by the Brennan family, whose other Alabama station was Birmingham's WVOK. One of the most powerful Shower of Stars events happened on May 7, 1965, when WVOK brought the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys to Legion Field. He was a very special guy. The Righteous Brothers. The eruption from the crowd was louder than expected but the lights were so blinding, we could not see the audience. Dan Brennan, center, with the Grass Roots. Brennan estimates that 16,000-17,000 people came to Legion Field for the show, fulfilling the radio station's mission but falling short of blockbuster status. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Instead, the concert was held at the Gator Bowl under the auspices of the Brennans Jacksonville station WAPE, the Big APE. The 8:30 p.m. show -- which happened in the windy aftermath of Hurricane Dora-- came courtesy of WAPE-AM, a radio station owned by the Brennan family. Tickets were priced at$1.50-$5.50 per show, Brennan says, and artists' fees usually ran about $300-$7,500 per act. WMSP (740 AM, Sports Radio 740) is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, USA. His current band, The Soul Crackas, does many of the same soul hits the Rockin Gibraltar performed. He even did about 30 seconds of Sweet Home Alabama (that was before that song was worn out). But it was one of many concerts organized by the Brennans, as they sought to cement listeners' loyalty to WVOK in Birmingham, WBAM-AM in Montgomery and WAPE in Jacksonville. Springsteen played the 'short end' of the the Beard-Eaves with the curtain up. "(Listeners) would tell us what they liked and didn't like. Rich Thomas Weather. The entire show was magic, beginning with The Stranger and of course included many of the unknown Joel early songs. One of Brennan's favorite anecdotes concerns a young Elvis Presley, making waves and jostling for position before a concerton Dec. 3,1955, at Garrett Coliseum. All who attended the big September 19th show must present ticket stub at gate between 12 noon and 1PM. 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. 100 feet later someone offered us tickets at face value. The largest universities in Montgomery, AL are Auburn University at Montgomery (975 degrees awarded in 2020), Faulkner University (844 degrees), and Alabama State University (712 degrees). "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. Dan Brennan at the mic introducing the Beatles at their Gator Bowl appearance in Jacksonville, Florida. At the time, Sonny was interested Cher's friend, not her. This might have swelled a lesser man's head, but for Brennan, it was all about connecting with the listeners. Where else could you scream your head off while watching a dozen live acts play the hit songs you listened to on your transistor radio for the whopping ticket price of $2.50? Instant Help Questions? One of its earliest Big BAM Shows featured Elvis Presley as he ascended to fame, on the same bill with Roy Acuff. Find the answers to any question. These are just a few of the acts presentedby the Brennans during the 1950s, '60s and early '70s. Top (l-r), Keith Brewer, Ed Sanford and Sonny Grier. Saw them at the University of Alabama home coming in 1978 as well. Hes been in a few movies, raced sports cars and been inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. View the Full Page. "Play It All Night Long." One show in particular stands out. A real commercial from the 60's with announcer Bill J Moody .Exciting times as a teen.growing up in Montgomery. 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. Dan Brennan had the honor of introducing the Beatles. We played all the way through college, says Long. "I think the story about Buckingham Nicks is pretty interesting. Canned Heat. If you have one, it's going to be way down the other part of the field.' . Tickets cost $3 apiece. Lou Christie was huge in Montgomery. 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. And not just the concerts, but the whole experience building up to it. 6 places sorted by traveler favorites Clear all filters 1. The chips were glued into Dianes scrap book between photos of the Beatles. Wed ask them, Who would you like to see? Then wed select artists for the shows from this listener input.. 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. Lowell George in his prime," says Bingothatwuzagoody. Paul Revere & the Raiders. But he's sure the introduction was brief, wasting no time as Beatlemania raged. By March 15, 2021 No Comments. Big BAM Shows of the late 1960s and early 1970s featured all the biggest artists of the day, including Paul Revere and the Raiders, Lou Christie, Iron Butterfly, The Carpenters, The Monkees (as a group and individually), Tommy Joyce and Bobby Heart, The Grass Roots, and many more. Blue arcs of electricity knocked him unconscious and the show ended 15 minutes early. Can you say Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?". The Rockin' Rebellions entered the big VOX (sound equipment) sponsored "WVOK Battle of the Bands" contest held at the Boutwell Auditorium in downtown Birmingham on May 20, 1967. . ", From Steve Wayne: "Guns N' Roses at the Birmingham Race Course. Garrett Coliseum Montgomery Concert Setlists City Montgomery, AL, United States Add Montgomery venue Address 1555 Federal Drive Montgomery, AL 36107 USA Opened 1963 Web Official Website Garrett Coliseum on Wikipedia Info Located at he Alabama Agricultural Center. The Huntsville Times file photo/Michael Proffitt. Several readers made fond mention of multi-act shows presented by WBAM-AM, a sister station to Birmingham's WVOK-AM, during the 1960s and early '70s. Cyril Brennan, who received a Top Program Director award from Billboard Magazine, is retired and lives in Pike Road. ", "I'm also inclined to mention 1982 at Boutwell when the Blizzard of Ozz played; Randy Rhoades' third to last appearance before his tragic death," said GmanGent. The venue? Show Duplicate for Mar 22, 2013: Mar 08, 2013 Justin Moore: Garrett Coliseum: ", From TTownTony: "You cannot even imagine the concerts played in Tuscaloosa before the BJCC was built. Music you could dance to We'd get hamburgers and bring them back, with someone always holding our place. But Brennandoes have many stories to share -- about preventing a fistfight between two starswho wanted theclosing spot in Birmingham, or example, or puzzling over two entertainerswho showed up in Montgomery, both claiming to be country singer Bobby Edwards. Famous quotes containing the words historical and/or videos: From au92536: "June Jam in Fort Payne - I know it's country BUT. "It cost enough that we were lucky to come out with just enough and break even with it," Brennan says. How many people have been able to say this at a concert, facing a roaring crowd? Dupree served with the Army in Vietnam, worked as an engineer in Muscle Shoals, and has been an electrical engineer for the Alabama Legislature for 27 years. "And that made a big difference, because people didn't have the opportunity to turn on the TV set and see these artists, after they'd been buying their records. From Sell it to the tourists: "I saw an amazing Harry Chapin show at the BJCC Concert Hall in around 1978? We only heard them. Skyping with a Hermit Top (l-r), Keith Brewer, Ed Sanford and Sonny Grier. The Byrds. 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. He didn't insist onphotos. 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. So they both sang a few bars of the song, 'You're the Reason I'm Living," and we still couldn't decide which one was the real one. With no sound checks between acts, group would run on stage and begin playing almost immediately. The station's transmitter is located in the town of Grady, Alabama. It made me feel good in a way, he said. Herman's Hermits. J Jackie Culpepper 662 followers More information WBAM Big Bam Shows Remembered Record Case Montgomery Growing Up 60s Old Things Teen Memories Remember Videos 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). A license for the station was issued in 1952. Hendrix only played a limited number of concerts before he died and the one in Tuscaloosa blew the top off Memorial Coliseum. I had to play the whole set standing up!. The capsule was opened during a ceremony December 3, but a complete list of its contents were not released at the time. 'I did it my way.'". . Moody also got to do his share of transporting stars, taking them to the Diplomat Inn, owned by Bill Brennan, older brother of Cyril and Dan and a partner in WBAM and WAPE. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Bobby Darin. I said, 'Elvis, I'm sorry, but we can't accommodate you, because it is his show.' 3. Solid show during a year held in very high regard by a large number of Deadheads. former wcti reporters; winter village montreal; western new england university greek life; 1980 camaro z28 for sale in canada. Their most popular singles were It Will Stand (also recorded by The Showmen) and Bug of Soul. The groups members drifted back to Alabama, with the exception of Townsend and Sanford who formed the Sanford-Townsend Band and recorded the hit Smoke from a Distant Fire.. Fans also rushed to nominate their favorites when asked for feedback. ", "Rolling Stones in Auburn '69," said James Robert Chambless. At least 25 people tried to jump the stage during the concert and were knocked backward into the crowd by gigantic stage bouncers! And didn't ever explain to the people what had happened. From:"Rodney Justo" To:"robert register" Subject:Re: HEY EL NIXO! The only multiple-act show in the country similar to what the Brennans offered were those produced by Dick Clark. Those two days in Alabama left a lasting impression on us because it was how we measured the rest of our gigs.. 2. Some of the concerts took place in a single location -- most often, Jacksonville. 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. ", From David Hester: "Eagles at Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville in 1975. To be honest, Brennan doesn't precisely recall what he said to the audience that evening, just before the mop-topped John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr took the stage. ", From Cobb: "Buckingham Nicks in Morgan Auditorium Tuscaloosa Alabama Fall 1973.". Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Now sales manager for a Dothan radio station, Moody fondly remembers working as a teenager at a 1959 WBAM concert featuring singer Connie Francis. It gave them a voice. Wed have them in the spring, summer, fall and winter, said Dan Brennan, known on-air as Dan the Music Man hosting Dans Dusty Discs, who also announced acts on-stage. Things changed a little bit after that. A recent Skype video call to his U.K. home found Whitwam fondly remembering the Hermits Big BAM Show performances. ", Several readers mentioned Lynyrd Skynyrd as a given, pointing to various concerts throughout the state. The . Patsy Cline. And the Brennans knew how to put on a show.. Big Bam All-Star Spring Show Setlists Apr 8 1967 Date Saturday, April 8, 1967 Venue Garrett Coliseum, Montgomery, AL, USA Report festival So far there are setlists of 9 gigs. 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. "It was quite a thing.". "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. There are still a lot of local bands out there, said Sonny Grier, lead singer with the Rockin Gibraltars. The wildest thing other than the Troggs rocking out to "Wild Thing" and whipping around long dirty hanks of British hair was Lou Christie. the tall man aboriginal spirit; metadata api request failed: component conversion failed: file_ended; caleb foote sandlot Both Shaw and Chapman have gone on to stardom as performers and songwriters.]. And the Shower of Stars concerts still linger in localmemory. We made $100, remembers Grier. Prattville, Alabama 36066 (334) 358-9460 View Weekly Ad Hours Store Services Full Furniture with Mattresses Furniture Leasing Furniture Delivery Milk, Eggs & Grocery Featured Be a Backyard Bigionaire! The Carpenters. ", From bhamboost: "Parliament Funkadelic Mothership Connection 1976. This doesn't even scratch the surface! The football stadiumposed a few extra challenges, Brennan says, from seating assignments to sound quality to weather preparation. "Cyril's idea was, 'Tell them to sing, just a little bit, and make sure that we get the right one.' Many of the artists told me these were the biggest shows theyd ever done.. The Buckinghams. So I went out and introduced Bobby Edwards, and he sang songs, and I came back about half an hour later, and I said, 'Now, here's Bobby Edwards!' Go to the Archives "I remember the Rolling Stones came up to me, and they said, 'You don't really expect us to get into the same RV that the Beach Boys are in, do you?' (In 1965, Legion Field could seat more than 68,000 people.) He would tear up the piano, Moody said, We couldnt find anyone to provide a piano, but he would put on a show. Though theyve had other jobs over the years, neither Jones nor Beavers have stopped playing music. I only have these pictures of all the concerts we attended from the early 1960's to late 1960's. This one in 1969, was probably the last one I attended. The following year 13 acts played in WVOKs Shower of Stars show at Legion Field in Birmingham. Ask anyone who was there. "We had a room set up at our house that had little cubbyholes, like a post office has, and Clara would be back there, stuffing these envelopes, and getting the tickets," Brennan says. "Put You Down" was written by lead guitarist Max Kendrick and vocalist Rich Gainer. WBAM Big Bam Shows Remembered 3,983 views Aug 25, 2013 A real commercial from the 60's with announcer Bill J Moody .Exciting times as a teen.growing up in Montgomery. Gobs of people have asked us when were going to do another reunion. In Brennan's view, that's a satisfying legacy. Rock 'n' roll had just started, and you were right in the middle of it.". "You didn't have to know anything about guitar to realize that he was one of the best ever to take the stage. Or Nirvana at Boutwell in 1993?Or Roger McGuinn at Merrimack Hall in 2014? 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. ", From Art Meripol: "U2's Zoo Tour at Legion was pretty fun from the floor.". He pulls this at every one of our shows. The audience was huge, sold out, 10,000 or more. Members: Original members John Key, David Headley and Bob Corley plus David Langford, Mike Mobley, Larry Hughes, Bobby Johnson and Rick Roper. Brennanleft the radio business for good in 1982. As a result, Captain and Tennille declined ABC's offer to do a second season. It was elbow to elbow in there, remembered drummer Tommy Beavers. Patsy Cline Performs Her Final Show Country Music Memories; Most Wanted Music: 2023's Country and Americana Album Releases; Follow Us. The Four Seasons. Ticket prices were never more expensive than $4.00. He never asked forautographs. We were the opening act and it was the biggest crowd we had ever played before, nearly 30,000 people. The band also played Birmingham in May 1977, according to this story by Madison Underwood. Renamed Rock Hull Band in 77 before reclaiming original name in 90. "There was a little office backstage, and I remember seeing my father and uncles back there with a security guard," Bartoletti says. snapchat chat bitmoji peeking. I missed a bunch more, though!". Anybody remember that one? Neither Tommy Shaw nor Beth Nielsen Chapman will be on hand due to their schedules. "Eight Days a Week -- The Touring Years. The station's studios are . Bob was producing a medical documentary in Alabama, and also was a promoter for Evil Kneival and Chill Wills. They had the Stones in about 1963-64, with Brian Jones before he died. At the time, though, Brennan was simply doing his job, helping the family's radio stations to connect with listeners in a vivid, concrete way. Herman's Hermits in the studio, Barry Whitwam on drums. The last Big BAM show was headlined by B.J. WBAM signed on in 1953 as AM 740. Big Bam Show Montgomery, Al 1960s F.U.N. The Beatles were paid a fee of $50,000 -- a hefty sum in those days, Brennan says -- and in the thick of the civil rights movement, the band's contract specified that they wouldn't perform for a segregated audience. From Mike Travis: "KISS, Van Halen, Rush, The Who, The Rolling Stones , Pink Floyd the racetrack mudfield to see GNR, Billy Joel and Elton John as well as the Eagles and Metallica in '81. That's how we put together our shows. Western European Countries, Italian Restaurants In Sandy Springs, Contemporary Music For All Coma, Ford Bronco Reservation Login, Panoplie Dragoeuf Dofus Touch, River Radio Station, Nice In Korean, How Did Tamerlan Tsarnaev Die, Den Of Behemoths Boss, 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. ", From cj75: "Grateful Dead, 5/17/77 in Tuscaloosa. Big BAM shows, Montgomery Several readers made fond mention of multi-act shows presented by WBAM-AM, a sister station to Birmingham's WVOK-AM, during the 1960s and early '70s. Show Hide article text (OCR) We'll have to ask him. In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero f. The Other Side of Montgomery book. The bands would come in cars -- just plain old cars -- and they'd get their guitars out and walk past you. George Harrison is behind Dan on the left, John Lennon on the right. by Lenore Vickrey If you were a teenager in south-central Alabama in the 1960s, chances are you danced the jerk, flirted with that cute boy, or made out in the corner of the high school gym to the music of a live band of local erstwhile musicians. 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. In 1964 the Brennans Jacksonville, Florida station, WAPE, hosted the Beatles in concert at the Gator Bowl (see sidebar below). Nothing else necessary. We had a fabulous time.. The primary reason for the shows was to keep a personal relationship with the listeners, said Dan Brennan, 81, former general manager at WVOK. 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. Beth Nielsen joined the group after Shaw left. His clothes were all rumpled, and he said, 'Dan, I need to go on later in the show. $14 million dollar house maine; The Lovin' Spoonful. If it's all right with him, it's all right with me. Inicio Quines somos? "Fairgrounds Bham. truly historic happening. The Big BAM was WBAM, the 50,000-watt AM radio station owned by the Brennan family, whose other Alabama station was Birminghams WVOK. ", From REDSEA: "While I was going to UNA back in 81, I worked on the Stage Crew on these concerts at UNA: Atlanta Rhythm Section (pictured), Jimmy Buffett, Tom Petty, Hotel, Crystal Gale. Classics such as Midnight Hour, (Wilson Pickett), Knock on Wood (Eddie Floyd), and Mr. He never collectedconcertposters, handbills orother pieces of memorabilia. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that is rarely revealed within the pages of history texts. 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 . They didn't come to hear me; they came to hear the Rolling Stones.'". December 24, 1958: Jerry Lee Lewis ; December 12, 1959: Fabian, The Fleetwoods, The Browns, Floyd Robinson and Bobby Lee Trammell I always got seats on the floor for the shows. And if we hadn't had (Hurricane Dora), we would have made a lot of money. Thats not to say Montgomery area favorite bands cant be seen any more. It feels good. Shop Now I never chased the stars around to hotels or anything. He showed up about five minutes before his show was to go on. It was great! Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that. For more, visit Rich's YouTube Channel . "Ringo had a riser above the stage, and of course this is all outdoors, and the winds were blowing up to 70 miles an hour," Brennan says. Shop Patio & Garden, including exclusive patio furniture from brands like Broyhill. It was electric. The Fabulous Shades, 1965. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. I'm sure they were totally confused.". Big Bam Show. Jones, now 59, also played school dances and armories in a group called The Drones. ", From Ken Cole: "I was at Jerry Lee Lewis in Boutwell in the mid '60s when I was a kid. We were waiting at the Holiday Inn, in the bar at the hotel having a beer. The bands that performed were: The Beach Boys / lou christie / Ian Whitcomb / The Happenings / the hollies / peter and gordon. Deep South Broadcasting was the licensee of WBAM-AM, 740 kc with 50,000 watts daytime in Montgomery. 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. Two years later WBAM went country and the station was later sold. I was there both times. ", From UABMBA: "One of the greatest concerts in Alabama was The Rolling Stones with Chuck Berry at Auburn Memorial Coliseum, November 14, 1969. Its amazing the life we got to live.. Elvis Presley. (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). Dan Brennan, center, backstage at the Shower of Stars with with Paul Revere & the Raiders. Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys were the headliners that evening, and the billincluded Kitty Wells, Johnnie and Jack, Fred Wamble, Jack Turner and Buddy Hawk. 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. BOBBY GOLDSBORO. 0. blues show montgomery, al 2021. The Show That Almost Happened "Probably the most famous and beloved would be Buckingham Nicks at Boutwell in January of 1975. 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. He and his wife live north of Prattville in a 1930s shack, have three grown children and are expecting their first grandchild. It wasnt concerts where you played and 500 people sat down and listened to you. "It was cold outside, show was to begin at 6 but began at 9; coeds from T-town waited for 2nd show which was to begin at 9 but began at about 2 next morning, had to get permission to stay in those days and freeze outside at Auburn University Coliseum.



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