The original investors in the company were William J. truly historic happening. That one was epic alright, unlike any other! No one came down to buy scalped tickets at the price everyone thought they were going to have to pay.. hehehehe .", From Mark Keppler: "Eagles 1977 Hotel California Tour Civic Center. I told Jimbo we should all come in with walkers, laughed Beavers. We'll have to ask him. He showed up about five minutes before his show was to go on. Show Duplicate for Mar 22, 2013: Mar 08, 2013 Justin Moore: Garrett Coliseum: Via a longstanding partnership with the Benns family, the Brennans also extended theirreach to Chattanooga, the home of WFLI-AM. "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.". By 1972 the heyday of the big shows had passed. But from the . Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). "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. He recalls the popular hangouts for older teens and the legendary "Big Bam Shows" of the period. ", From GmanGent: "Alice Cooper Von Braun in 1974's Welcome to my Nightmare Tourone of the most successful tours financially up until that time. 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. Louise Brennan, Cyril's wife, at the Beatles' press conference in Jacksonville. Procedimientos. Both Shaw and Chapman have gone on to stardom as performers and songwriters.]. Big Bam Show . The station's transmitter is located in the town of Grady, Alabama. Members: Original members Larry Hoyle, Johnny Hassett and Ron Howard, plus Chris Seymour, Johnny Long, Jr. and Craig Young. "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. A buddy and I went down hoping for a miracle and some guy offered us two tickets for $10 bucks each which we gladly paid. I'm sure they were totally confused.". With no sound checks between acts, group would run on stage and begin playing almost immediately. Melissa Parker (Smashing Interviews Magazine): Tommy, I'm in Montgomery, Alabama. "Best concert I caught in this state was at Memorial Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1978 Lowell George and Little Feat. Vocalist in Salem, Alabama 1,320 views on fandalism. By the time we got to the steps of the BJCC a guy had a shoebox full of tickets that he was trying to sell for a buck each. We were waiting at the Holiday Inn, in the bar at the hotel having a beer. "Play It All Night Long." The bands that performed were: The Beach Boys / lou christie / Ian Whitcomb / The Happenings / the hollies / peter and gordon. Famous quotes containing the words historical and/or videos: In 1964 the Brennans booked the Beatles for a concert in either Legion Field in Birmingham, or Garrett Coliseum or Crampton Bowl in Montgomery. Though theyve had other jobs over the years, neither Jones nor Beavers have stopped playing music. Id never seen anybody get an audience so excited, Dan Brennan remembered. In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero f. Home; My Books; Browse . The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC From what we can tell, she appeared there in 1970, but the story mentions Dec. 3, 1970, as the date of her show. 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. . ", Several readers mentioned Lynyrd Skynyrd as a given, pointing to various concerts throughout the state. The Rockin' Rebellions won top honors - beating out 67 other bands from throughout Alabama. Respi Mee Sup Sabahiiat. Its amazing the life we got to live.. Lindley. People came from several states to see these shows. From Billy Bromberg: "Led Zeppelin 1973, Coleman Coliseum." Neither Tommy Shaw nor Beth Nielsen Chapman will be on hand due to their schedules. ", From Cobb: "Buckingham Nicks in Morgan Auditorium Tuscaloosa Alabama Fall 1973.". There were a lot of fun people.. Other notable former personalities included Bill J. Moody, Paul Simpkins, Mark Robbins, Gene Hocutt and Joe Cook. "Billsaid, 'Well, if anybody makes any money out of it, it's going to be me.' When I got on stage the drum kit seat was way too high. 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. (The station's nickname, "the Mighty 690," referred to its spot on the AM dial.). I don't know, I guess people got to trust us. Make Favorite Store Contact 1957 Cobbs Ford Rd. Bobby Goldsboro was having a nice run of hits in the mid-'60s when suddenly, with the release of a song called "Honey" in 1968, he became a major star. HOW COME PAUL GODDARD PUSHES HIS GLASSES UP THE BRIDGE OF HIS NOSE? Cyril Brennan, who received a Top Program Director award from Billboard Magazine, is retired and lives in Pike Road. "People were going crazy, and you couldn't hear anything because the girls were screaming so loud," Bartoletti says. 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. "Lynyrd Skynyrd, after Montrose featuring Sammy Hagar July 4th, 1975 at Rickwood Field," said Bamabadger62. In Brennan's view, that's a satisfying legacy. The eruption from the crowd was louder than expected but the lights were so blinding, we could not see the audience. Formed: 1972, Tuscaloosa. 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). Readers of AL.com have plenty of ideas. We rode up the . Several others mentioned seeing the Rolling Stones in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. ", From Will-I: "Bruce Springsteen in Auburn in 1975. A memorable night that I won't ever forget. 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. "(Listeners) would tell us what they liked and didn't like. "Elviswas an opening act," Brennan says. Bobby Darin. Most of the clubs have gone to a single performer, or a duo or karaoke. Tickets cost $3 apiece. Beavers has played drums for various bands, including Doc Severinson, Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett, winning a Grammy Award for Best Performance by Duo or Group in 1994 while a member of Asleep at the Wheel. It was electric. At this point, Mick Jagger and his pals were poised to release"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," their first international smash. Any of the Yes shows in Birmingham! They moved to LA, minus Grier whod gotten married and had a new baby and didnt want to move. A license for the station was issued in 1952. The football stadiumposed a few extra challenges, Brennan says, from seating assignments to sound quality to weather preparation. All rights reserved (About Us). Jerry Lee Lewis hristie Lou C. Paul Revere & the Raiders . The Hollies. 0. blues show montgomery, al 2021. Its magic, said Beavers. "There was a police line for the Beatles to run through, and the stage was built up so people couldn't get to them.". One of its earliest Big BAM Shows featured Elvis Presley as he ascended to fame, on the same bill with Roy Acuff. The Who. FACIAL. The Big BAM Shows. After helping escort her safely away from an unruly crowd, she rewarded him with a big kiss. Thousands of Beatles fans were ready to twist and shout in the Southeast, and the Brennan clan had made it happen. The concertlater gained a secure foothold in Alabamamusic history -- fans here still ooh and aah about it -- but it wasn't a money-making proposition. The most entertaining act? Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Uploaded 11 years ago Music 4; Photos 0; Interview . ", The Birmingham News file photo/Philip Barr. We had a fabulous time.. "Cyril's idea was, 'Tell them to sing, just a little bit, and make sure that we get the right one.' YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Best Review Site for Digital Cameras. Anybody remember that one? It was a real happening thing.. nellson nutraceutical revenue; arlington catholic basketball roster; jack cawood and suzy hunt; lawn vacuum for acorns rental. The Temptations and The Supremes, The TCB Tour, Auburn University, 1972. In 1964 the Brennans Jacksonville, Florida station, WAPE, hosted the Beatles in concert at the Gator Bowl (see sidebar below). ", Brennan, headquartered in Birmingham, rode herd over the Shower of Stars and was the primary talent buyer for the concerts, along with his other duties at WVOK. The other name band on the show was the Allman Brothers, they had just released their first album. Our four-piece horn section sets us apart, said Key. Joplin died on Oct. 4, 1970. WBAM Big Bam Shows; Dan's Dusty Discs WBAM; WBAM Pictures; Read more about this topic: WBAM-FM, History. 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. 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. Brennan bid farewell to concert promotion in 1973 --a necessary business decision, he says -- and for Birmingham music lovers, it was the end of an era. The Big BAM was WBAM, the 50,000-watt AM radio station owned by the Brennan family, whose other Alabama station was Birminghams WVOK. Elton John played three different years and drew over 40,000 total. ", From UABMBA: "One of the greatest concerts in Alabama was The Rolling Stones with Chuck Berry at Auburn Memorial Coliseum, November 14, 1969. Clapton! The WVOK Shower of Stars was a series of concerts sponsored by WVOK-AM at the Birmingham Armory and later at Birmingham's Municipal Auditorium.Program director Dan Brennan organized the shows, which gained national notice.. Concerts. Pitiful (Otis Redding) sound so much better with real horns.. Rock 'n' roll had just started, and you were right in the middle of it.". Instant Help Questions? Peter (Asher) and Gordon (Waller), Big BAM Show. Whitwam, now in his 47th year playing music, is pleased with the makeup of their current audiences. WBAM signed on in 1953 as AM 740. BB King's penultimate show at the Alabama (sitting but still playing and not drifting into non sequitur land). "Bill" Brennan, Billy Benns (Jr.) and Mrs. Luella B. Aldridge. The Who played there. ", 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. He must have played an hour and 20 minutes or more. "What's that Frank Sinatra song? ", From Larry Gilbreath: "I know it's been a long time ago but not one single June Jam in Fort Payne on the list unbelievable." 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!' 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. WMSP (740 AM, Sports Radio 740) is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, USA. the tall man aboriginal spirit; metadata api request failed: component conversion failed: file_ended; caleb foote sandlot Cosmic Slop was classic, turned that mother out. 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. 'I did it my way.'". A recent Skype video call to his U.K. home found Whitwam fondly remembering the Hermits Big BAM Show performances. "I didn't stay up there too long," Brennan says, laughing. 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. That radio station had its concerts, too, dubbedJet-Fli Spectaculars, at the Soldiers &Sailors Memorial Auditorium. At the time, Sonny was interested Cher's friend, not her. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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.. There was this woman who was playing the bongos who literally passed out playing. "One of my favorites was RUSH 1981 Mobile Municipal Auditorium," said tgfmiss. Keith Richards was almost electrocuted when his guitar grounded on a mic. 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. ", From StolibGeezer: "Zevon played the Alabama twice. Edgar Winter Group with the Frankenstein tour," said Rick Allen. "Bill" Brennan, one of the owners of The Big Bam, Montgomery's renowned 50,000-watt radio station. 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. The show is a spin-off from MTV 's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast appeared. Some of the items will go on exhibit starting Thursday at the Alabama. "The level of excitement was unbelievable," Bartoletti says. I dont feel like well have any problem (remembering their songs). Its a good bet theyll play some Steely Dan, Crosby, Stills & Nash, a favorite, Sweet Magnolia, and Bill Hinds rendition of Joe Walshs Rocky Mountain Way.. [Montgomery native and fellow Robert E. Lee graduate Tommy Shaw came back from Chicago to join the group, staying six months until getting a call to join Styx, who needed a replacement for a guitarist whod left as they were about to go on tour. This doesn't even scratch the surface! Yet. There was a little jealousy there.". As Brennan recalls it, the Beach Boys were paid $7,500 for their performance, and the Rolling Stones received $5,000. (The Beatles' popularity in the U.S. exploded in 1964, and that year's tour was a watershed moment for the band.). 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. . The Brennan Brothers were radio broadcast innovators of the 1950s and 60s, when they owned and operated powerhouse stations in Jacksonville, Chattanooga, and . Props. Otherwise . "I felt that I was lucky to be able to have the kind of job I had," Brennan says. Springsteen played the 'short end' of the the Beard-Eaves with the curtain up. 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. For this little kid from Wetumpka, that was a big, big deal, he said. In most cases, the concertswere multi-act affairs, featuring the hottest names the radio stations could secure. He was replaced by Johnny Townsend from Tuscaloosa, who was living with Duane and Gregg Allman in LA. This was the last concert they did before going back to LA and joining the band Fleetwood Mac. Here, then, is a readers' choice list of 31 awesome concerts in Alabama, culled from email, Facebook and comments on the original post. He wants to go on late in the show.' Ticket prices were never more expensive than $4.00. Big Bam Fall Spectacular has had 1 concert. Keyboardist Mark Marvin will fill in for Eddie Wohlford who is unable to attend. And not just the concerts, but the whole experience building up to it. Hello? "It was rewarding, because people seemed to respond to some of the things I was doing. 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 . The primary reason for the shows was to keep a personal relationship with the listeners, said Dan Brennan, 81, former general manager at WVOK. One show in particular stands out. The Brennans often picked up and drove band members to and from the airport and hotels, quite a thrill for Diane Brennan Knapp and Donnie Kay Brennan, daughters of Cyril Brennan and teenagers at the time. Steve Lander, who originally booked Harvest at the Kove in 1975, has offered the Blue Iguana free for the night. A close second would be Yes at the Concert Hall in 2013. 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. The Huntsville Times file photo/Michael Proffitt. More like this Cheerleading Pictures Cheerleading Uniforms Girls Knee Socks Saddle Shoes Long Socks Roller Derby Time Capsule Cheer Up Female Athletes Cheerleaders 1960-70s- Loving the knee socks, saddle shoes, and huge pom poms! The entire show was magic, beginning with The Stranger and of course included many of the unknown Joel early songs. He and his wife live north of Prattville in a 1930s shack, have three grown children and are expecting their first grandchild. George Howell, who as George the D.J. co-hosted Hubcap Classics, was a big fan of the BAM shows beginning in the 9th grade. Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park 52 Theaters Parks By Meowy Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Brennanleft the radio business for good in 1982. We stayed at the same hotel as them. It was the most important thing in our lives. ", From Art Meripol: "U2's Zoo Tour at Legion was pretty fun from the floor.". "Times have changed so," said a wistful Peek, the Shower of Stars devotee. Her harmonies with Eddie and Jimbo were legendary, and thus the group found its new name. The Byrds. Anybody else remember seeing Joplin in Tuscaloosa? Her very own father was on stage, standing closeto four of the most famous musicians in the world. Im content where Im at, said Beavers, except I could lose about 80 pounds.. One was the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama, which was to host a concert on September 10 th. The Quad show was FREE! Bell. Herman's Hermits in the studio, Barry Whitwam on drums. 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. Patsy Cline. "Big Church Night Out" / Newsboys / Sidewalk Prophets / 7eventh Time Down / Blanca / Derek Minor / Brock Gill / Jeremy Willet . Montgomery's home for country music favorites like Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert . fireworks at the end while playing freebird.??? Add the extra costs associated with security guards and insurance, and hiring bands is not a profitable option for many club owners. 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. Toni loved doing the show, but Daryl, who never enjoyed being on camera, did not. WVOK used Legion Field as a test case that spring, Brennan says, to see if the Shower of Stars could work at Birmingham's largest venue. The following year 13 acts played in WVOKs Shower of Stars show at Legion Field in Birmingham. The Fabulous Shades We'd be there from the crack of dawn until midnight. We do everything from Jerry Jeff Walker to the Grateful Dead to Van Morrison, says Pappas. With an amazing backing band, he proceeded to entertain the entire evening. 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.. "I don't have any regrets," hesays. ", From Don Haley Benson: "Bruce Springsteen Born in the USA! But with two hotshot rock bandson the bill at Legion Field, the twangier acts faced a tougher crowd and some of the musicians felt like underdogs. 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. He would tear up the piano, Moody said, We couldnt find anyone to provide a piano, but he would put on a show. "We never had a flop," Brennan says, "but we had some shows that were a little bit bigger than others. "We're big on memories," Brennan says. Montgomery, Alabama, United States: Apr 15, 2016 keith sweat / Juvenile / Morris Day & The Time / Cherelle: . YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Neil Diamond. The mothership landed in the BJCC that night. From Denniswingo: "April 1977 was Led Zeppelin.famous because it was so totally over promoted with the K-99 disc jockeys claiming $100 scalped tickets (it was $7.50 ticket price). Reactions to these picks -- made by entertainment reporters Matt Wake, Lawrence Specker and Mary Colurso -- ranged from praise to anger, support to dismay. For more, visit Rich's YouTube Channel . Packed house for a 1960s Big BAM Show at Garrett Coliseum. You can either do that, or you will not have a place to change. Go to the Archives We played all the way through college, says Long. Dislike Share. They would buy so many tickets in advance, we didn't have to worry about whether they were going to come or not.". According to Dan, the only surviving brother, it was Bill's decision to offer$50,000 to the Beatles for their appearance at the Gator Bowl. 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. It will be the first time theyve have been together since a reunion benefit at a local club in 2007. Emerson, Lake and Palmer in QUAD sound - Tuscaloosa circa 1973. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. "Rickwood Field, late 70's. Just a few of the letters WBAM received from fans providing input into the acts they wished to see at the shows. ', "We went over there and asked Roy, and he said, 'No, we're not going to do that. What made those shows big was that Dan and Cyril would always pick the artists who were hot at the time, remembered Bill J. Moody, a former WBAM announcer and later host of Hubcap Classics. If a group had a hit record, we would have them. I told someone to lower the seat, and when I sat down, it went all the way to the bottom, he said, chuckling. ); 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). 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. The Four Seasons. You are free to use the above map for educational and similar purposes; if you publish it online or in print . The bands would come in cars -- just plain old cars -- and they'd get their guitars out and walk past you. The band's management initially asked for 85 percent of the ticket proceeds or $25,000, whichever was greater, Brennan says. They agreed to do it, but they were on one end of it, and the Beach Boys were on the other end of it. Moody remembers the group mysteriously disappeared after one show and had to be retrieved to play their second gig (lead singer Peter Noone was known to enjoy a party.). December 24, 1958: Jerry Lee Lewis ; December 12, 1959: Fabian, The Fleetwoods, The Browns, Floyd Robinson and Bobby Lee Trammell 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. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that is rarely revealed within the pages of history texts. Ticket prices were never more expensive than $4.00. Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis were on the bill, said Whitwam of their first performance at Garrett Coliseum. So many great City Stages performances: Chuck Berry (backed my some of Birmingham's finest), James Brown, Johnny Cash (right after Randy Newman! Now sales manager for a Dothan radio station, Moody fondly remembers working as a teenager at a 1959 WBAM concert featuring singer Connie Francis. Its effortless., Even after all these years, agreed Jones. We made $100, remembers Grier. The Rogues recorded the 45 in February of 1966, for MBM Records, a Birmingham, Alabama label that goes back to the early '60s. The Animals. We didn't make any money.". I always got seats on the floor for the shows. Thomas, joined by John Kay (solo after leaving Steppenwolf), the Grass Roots and others. It feels good. Date:Sun, 5 Jun 2005 09:12:45 -0400 I'll tell you a story about that WBAM show in Montgomery. He never collectedconcertposters, handbills orother pieces of memorabilia. I tasted my first grits there my very first grit (laughs).
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