"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. We played all the way through college, says Long. The Fab Four wouldnt play to segregated audiences, and at that time this was the case in Alabama. More on the Grateful Dead's 1995 shows in Birmingham, from AL.com's "Lost Stories" series. Formed: 1966, Tallassee. Her very own father was on stage, standing closeto four of the most famous musicians in the world. Ticket prices were $2 for shows in the early 1960s, gradually increasing to a top price of $5.50, a pittance by todays standards. ", 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. Some of the concerts took place in a single location -- most often, Jacksonville. Hello? The . 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. Jerry Lee Lewis hristie Lou C. Paul Revere & the Raiders . Patsy Cline Performs Her Final Show Country Music Memories; Most Wanted Music: 2023's Country and Americana Album Releases; Follow Us. 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. 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. They didn't come to hear me; they came to hear the Rolling Stones.'". "Tuscaloosa Memorial Coliseum 1972," said Randy Palmer. The most entertaining act? You are free to use the above map for educational and similar purposes; if you publish it online or in print . The Carpenters. 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. Melissa Parker (Smashing Interviews Magazine): Tommy, I'm in Montgomery, Alabama. Both stations played Top 40 hits of the day, and the concerts were the Brennans' gifts to a loyal radio audience. Disbanded in 66, reunited 76, returned to active performance 1991. I never chased the stars around to hotels or anything. He and his wife live north of Prattville in a 1930s shack, have three grown children and are expecting their first grandchild. Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. Props. They agreed to do it, but they were on one end of it, and the Beach Boys were on the other end of it. WMSP (740 AM, Sports Radio 740) is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, USA. Elvis Presley. So we had to delay the start of the show about 15 minutes or so while the carpenters came out and put these rails together. Hes been a school principal and now sells wholesale art, although business has been suffering due to the economy. Other notable former personalities included Bill J. Moody, Paul Simpkins, Mark Robbins, Gene Hocutt and Joe Cook. 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!' That one was epic alright, unlike any other! ); 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). Published by at February 16, 2022. We were very obnoxious to the security guard, who was the nicest guy, and of course, we would go in and outside all the time. "It was quite a thing.". The Big BAM was WBAM, the 50,000-watt AM radio station owned by the Brennan family, whose other Alabama station was Birminghams WVOK. 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 . "Times have changed so," said a wistful Peek, the Shower of Stars devotee. Neither Tommy Shaw nor Beth Nielsen Chapman will be on hand due to their schedules. J Jackie Culpepper 662 followers More information WBAM Big Bam Shows Remembered Record Case Montgomery Growing Up 60s Old Things Teen Memories Remember Videos I told Jimbo we should all come in with walkers, laughed Beavers. Hendrix only played a limited number of concerts before he died and the one in Tuscaloosa blew the top off Memorial Coliseum. 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. 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. Those two days in Alabama left a lasting impression on us because it was how we measured the rest of our gigs.. But from the . Deep South Broadcasting was the licensee of WBAM-AM, 740 kc with 50,000 watts daytime in Montgomery. Chuck Berry was awesome and the Stones in their early days were unbelievable.". Bobby Goldsboro | Way Back Attack The Animals. The mothership landed in the BJCC that night. ), "I remember we used to have people come out to our station on the Bessemer Superhighway," Brennan says, "and they would tell us that our transmitter -- we had a 50-kilowatt transmitter, and it was pretty close to their homes -- and they said, 'Well, I'm picking you up on my coffeepot.'". "There was a police line for the Beatles to run through, and the stage was built up so people couldn't get to them.". We didnt play where people sat around and drank. 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. "Big Church Night Out" / Newsboys / Sidewalk Prophets / 7eventh Time Down / Blanca / Derek Minor / Brock Gill / Jeremy Willet . 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 shows in Montgomery were on my list," said Jack Boles. 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. ", From Jeremy Don McCollough: "Guns N' Roses played the Birmingham race course, it was a muddy mess. So many great City Stages performances: Chuck Berry (backed my some of Birmingham's finest), James Brown, Johnny Cash (right after Randy Newman! After helping escort her safely away from an unruly crowd, she rewarded him with a big kiss. They were a staple at dances for years, packing National Guard armories, gymnasiums, and teen clubs from Montgomery to Opp and Troy, and college campuses at Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Ole Miss. 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. My personal favorite concert of all times was Billy Joel at the BJCC Concert Hall. Roy Orbison. Jerry Lee Lewis, the Brennans said. White guys playing soul music!, Most of the stuff we played was music you could easily dance to, said Dupree. We'd be there from the crack of dawn until midnight. said donnna. Chuck Berry was an intro-act, great show he put on. Both concerts were sold out. Local garage bands (they practiced in their parents garages or living rooms) were found in almost every town in the United States in the mid-to late 60s, and the Montgomery area was no exception. WBAM was a powerhouse at 50,000 watts, covering much of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.From its earliest days, WBAM put on concerts for the Montgomery area. "Elviswas an opening act," Brennan says. 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 didn't make any money.". WBAM ~ Trax & Grooves - Blogger Procedimientos. The bands would come in cars -- just plain old cars -- and they'd get their guitars out and walk past you. They enjoy reminiscing about the stars, the shows and the fans who made it possible. ", From Art Meripol: "U2's Zoo Tour at Legion was pretty fun from the floor.". We rode up the . 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. She remembers her father's words with startling clarity, along with the thrill she experiencedwhile sitting in the front row. The Fabulous Shades The station's transmitter is located in the town of Grady, Alabama. 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. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC. The Rockin' Gibraltars, Montgomery, 1960s. There was always so much excitement surrounding the shows, Knapp said. So it was a deliberate attempt to identify with people, and to recognize that they were requesting these songs. People would come night after night, said Lander, who owns Bama Lanes in Montgomery and Prattville. 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. "My brother, he was always a little bit of a gambler," Brennan says. The other name band on the show was the Allman Brothers, they had just released their first album. 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). 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 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. Clipping found in Alabama Journal in Montgomery, Alabama on Mar 24, 1966. Some of the items will go on exhibit starting Thursday at the Alabama. At least 25 people tried to jump the stage during the concert and were knocked backward into the crowd by gigantic stage bouncers! He also helped to choose and line up some of the concert talent. He plays locally at Ruddles, Coaches Corner in Wetumpka, Young Barn Oyster Pub, and has recorded a CD. Lou Christie was huge in Montgomery. Pitiful (Otis Redding) sound so much better with real horns.. Thousands of Beatles fans were ready to twist and shout in the Southeast, and the Brennan clan had made it happen. We were the opening act and it was the biggest crowd we had ever played before, nearly 30,000 people. former wcti reporters; winter village montreal; western new england university greek life; 1980 camaro z28 for sale in canada. Dislike Share. ", From David Hester: "Eagles at Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville in 1975. The Beach Boys. This was the last concert they did before going back to LA and joining the band Fleetwood Mac. Louise Brennan, Cyril's wife, at the Beatles' press conference in Jacksonville. ", From estevev: "Of the ones I attended, the most memorable ones were -- Ike and Tina Turner Review, Plush Horse, (1974? The audience was huge, sold out, 10,000 or more. 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. Classics such as Midnight Hour, (Wilson Pickett), Knock on Wood (Eddie Floyd), and Mr. Blue arcs of electricity knocked him unconscious and the show ended 15 minutes early. Jerry Lee Lewis. Fans also rushed to nominate their favorites when asked for feedback. "They would be paying the acts, literally, in cash. Anotherbrother, Bill Brennan, was the undisputed chief of the Jacksonville station, and had houses in Montgomery and Jacksonville. We only heard them. The entire show was magic, beginning with The Stranger and of course included many of the unknown Joel early songs. Bobby Darin. The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC. ", From TTownTony: "You cannot even imagine the concerts played in Tuscaloosa before the BJCC was built. The Rockin' Rebellions won top honors - beating out 67 other bands from throughout Alabama. Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park 52 Theaters Parks By Meowy He said, 'We're going to put both of them on.' It was a hold out because they had missed a previous show in May of 1974. zhonb.zulukazahn.best The Who. Shower of Stars audiences were accustomed to seeing a mix of rock, pop and country acts on stage, and the lineup for every show had a pecking order. The station's studios are . Welcome to my Nightmare in Huntsville Von Braun 1975 and KISS in 1976 at Von Braun. blues show montgomery, al 2021. guildford school of acting auditions; gilroy google font alternative; cuisinart steamer insert; Blog Post Title February 26, 2018. The Grass Roots. WBAM Big Bam Shows Remembered - YouTube WMSP - Wikiwand Alabama State Coliseum (1951-1963) Garrett Coliseum (1963-) Oct 5 2019 We stayed at the same hotel as them. ", "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 material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Instead, the concert was held at the Gator Bowl under the auspices of the Brennans Jacksonville station WAPE, the Big APE. For more, visit Rich's YouTube Channel . The Young Rascals. We'd get hamburgers and bring them back, with someone always holding our place. It feels good. The Other Side of Montgomery: Growing Up White in the Birthplace of the "We never had a flop," Brennan says, "but we had some shows that were a little bit bigger than others. From au92536: "June Jam in Fort Payne - I know it's country BUT. ", From bhamboost: "Parliament Funkadelic Mothership Connection 1976. The Righteous Brothers. ", Looking back on it, Brennan realizes that bringing the Beatles to the Gator Bowl was a milestone event -- one firmly enshrined in Beatles lore and noted by Ron Howard in his 2016 documentary, "Eight Days a Week -- The Touring Years." I told someone to lower the seat, and when I sat down, it went all the way to the bottom, he said, chuckling. December 24, 1958: Jerry Lee Lewis ; December 12, 1959: Fabian, The Fleetwoods, The Browns, Floyd Robinson and Bobby Lee Trammell The following year 13 acts played in WVOKs Shower of Stars show at Legion Field in Birmingham. Its effortless., Even after all these years, agreed Jones. But theres not a whole lot of money because theres no place for them to play. Gate Band She came back a few minutes later and absolutely blasted a massive bongo solo. Find the answers to any question. The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC. "One of the the things we had to do, in order to provide bathroom facilities for all of the artists, we had a bunch of RVs, recreation vehicles, and they were all over the field out there," Brennan says. BB King's penultimate show at the Alabama (sitting but still playing and not drifting into non sequitur land). For fans, half the fun was trying for a glimpse of the stars at their hotel or coming to and from the coliseum. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Id never seen anybody get an audience so excited, Dan Brennan remembered. The Fabulous Shades, 1965. "Radio played the song every twenty minutes. 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. One of its earliest Big BAM Shows featured Elvis Presley as he ascended to fame, on the same bill with Roy Acuff. He doesnt keep up with Johnny Townsend, but remains friends with Rusty Crumpton and Ed Sanford, who is a successful artist in Los Angeles. Tickets to these shows were typically $3 to $4. He never asked forautographs. They actually were already signed to join, when Peace Concerts booked the January 31, 1975 show. I didn't stay afterwards, but my friends who did said that he stood in the lobby as long as anyone was there greeting fans and talking about world hunger. And if we hadn't had (Hurricane Dora), we would have made a lot of money. The Rogues of Montgomery, AL cut one great rock single, "Put You Down" b/w a version of "Stormy Monday Blues". The Quad show was FREE! Toni loved doing the show, but Daryl, who never enjoyed being on camera, did not. Jimbo Jones (L) and Tommy Beavers look forward to the reunion of Harmony. 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. Things changed a little bit after that. I said, 'Well, you've got a choice here. There was this woman who was playing the bongos who literally passed out playing. 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. big bam shows montgomery, alabamasmart search field in safari. WMSP - Wikipedia REENADED . The show is a spin-off from MTV 's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast appeared. "I'm so old. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. WBAM Big Bam Shows - YouTube Tickets were priced at$1.50-$5.50 per show, Brennan says, and artists' fees usually ran about $300-$7,500 per act. WBAM signed on in 1953 as AM 740. "Ringo said, 'I'm not getting up there unless you build me a bannister around this thing.' big bam shows montgomery, alabama - cirujanoplasticoleon.com In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero f. Home; My Books; Browse . 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. porsche cayman 987 bodykit; efficiencies for rent in riverview, fl. The WMSP studios are located on the 3rd floor of . ", 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. Gary Puckett & the Union Gap. 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. It wasnt concerts where you played and 500 people sat down and listened to you. 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. 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! Wed ask them, Who would you like to see? Then wed select artists for the shows from this listener input.. 'I did it my way.'". They moved to LA, minus Grier whod gotten married and had a new baby and didnt want to move. Yes, the Beatles' performance was "a really big show," as Ed Sullivan wouldhave said. Solid show during a year held in very high regard by a large number of Deadheads. This doesn't even scratch the surface! ", From cj75: "Grateful Dead, 5/17/77 in Tuscaloosa. The group recorded a few songs at Muscle Shoals FAME Studios, played around the Los Angeles area with big name bands like Vanilla Fudge and Three Dog Night, and once opened for Jimi Hendrix. 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. "We'd camp out at the door, on the steps and wait. And didn't ever explain to the people what had happened. By the time they came to get us we were pretty shozzeled.. 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. Shop Patio & Garden, including exclusive patio furniture from brands like Broyhill. Big Bam Fall Spectacular has had 1 concert. Go to the Archives Cyril Brennan, who received a Top Program Director award from Billboard Magazine, is retired and lives in Pike Road. 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. The band has undergone several incarnations. to see more entries, Posted on June 1, 2011 by bob in Features. There was a little jealousy there.". Brennan had many encounters with celebritiesover his three decades as a concert promoter, but says he never felt famous -- not even when he was widely regardedas a household name in Birmingham radio. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Brennan's memories of the showsare less starry-eyed and more businesslike, as befitsthe man who booked the acts, paid the bills and tallied the proceeds. Their friends were quite envious when they got to hang out with the Grass Roots, Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds, Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders, and rode around with Eric Burden and the Animals. All rights reserved (About Us). From what we can tell, she appeared there in 1970, but the story mentions Dec. 3, 1970, as the date of her show. Big Bam Show - Newspapers.com They have reformed several times with different members, playing for Lee High School reunions. Many of the artists told me these were the biggest shows theyd ever done.. I was blown away. Many regulars from the Kove days brought their grown children and will likely do so again.