And the Shower of Stars concerts still linger in localmemory. When was the last concert at Big Bam Fall Spectacular? We get young people, folks our age, and older folks, he said proudly. 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. Lindley. 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. I was very happy with doing the work I did. The Four Seasons. 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.. Props. Im content where Im at, said Beavers, except I could lose about 80 pounds.. All who attended the big September 19th show must present ticket stub at gate between 12 noon and 1PM. Tickets to these shows were typically $3 to $4. Nothing else necessary. Wish I had gotten one. (L-R) Bob Corley, David Headley, Cary Green, Jeffery Johnson, Bob Pike, John Key. 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). Members: Original members Larry Hoyle, Johnny Hassett and Ron Howard, plus Chris Seymour, Johnny Long, Jr. and Craig Young. ", From bamamaam: "What about the lynyrd skynyrd concert at rickwood field in the '70's.? At this point, Mick Jagger and his pals were poised to release"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," their first international smash. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. He must have played an hour and 20 minutes or more. ', "We went over there and asked Roy, and he said, 'No, we're not going to do that. And the Brennans knew how to put on a show.. I said, 'Well, you've got a choice here. In 1964 the Brennans Jacksonville, Florida station, WAPE, hosted the Beatles in concert at the Gator Bowl (see sidebar below). The early concert didn't begin until it was time for the second one, but it was worth the wait. Hes been a school principal and now sells wholesale art, although business has been suffering due to the economy. 0. blues show montgomery, al 2021. 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. No mention does anyone else remember that?". The chips were glued into Dianes scrap book between photos of the Beatles. One show in particular stands out. Consumate pranksters, duo Jan and Dean walk across the stage carrying a ladder to the surprise of Paul Revere and the Raiders' lead singer Mark Lindsey. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. He even did about 30 seconds of Sweet Home Alabama (that was before that song was worn out). ", From Art Meripol: "U2's Zoo Tour at Legion was pretty fun from the floor.". 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). We had enough left over that, for a lot of our promotions after that, people would get free raincoats.". That way I could see the stars and hear the music better. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. "Billsaid, 'Well, if anybody makes any money out of it, it's going to be me.' "People were going crazy, and you couldn't hear anything because the girls were screaming so loud," Bartoletti says. WMSP is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, United States. +40 (724) 307.599 Lu - Vi: 9:00 - 18:00; big bam shows montgomery, alabama Once solo and once with a band. In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero f. Home; My Books; Browse . Montgomery's home for country music favorites like Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert . Id never seen anybody get an audience so excited, Dan Brennan remembered. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. One of the Beach Boys told me it was the biggest talent show hed ever been in!. Submit a request Contact us through a specially prepared form. "Put You Down" was written by lead guitarist Max Kendrick and vocalist Rich Gainer. Melissa Parker (Smashing Interviews Magazine): Tommy, I'm in Montgomery, Alabama. REENADED . We were the opening act and it was the biggest crowd we had ever played before, nearly 30,000 people. nellson nutraceutical revenue; arlington catholic basketball roster; jack cawood and suzy hunt; lawn vacuum for acorns rental. WBAM, also known as 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. "I'm also a little partial to Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Jerry Reed, Johnny Paycheck, when they played at Old York Farms in the late '90s," said Jeremy Don McCollough. "(Listeners) would tell us what they liked and didn't like. "Lynyrd Skynyrd, after Montrose featuring Sammy Hagar July 4th, 1975 at Rickwood Field," said Bamabadger62. ", "Leo Kottke, Foster Auditorium, UA campus, about 1974," said 57939names. Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park 52 Theaters Parks By Meowy And they accepted it, but we did get the total amount of the gate that came in. Big Bam Show. 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 . "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. Read reviews from world's largest community for readers. The Show That Almost Happened Other notable former personalities included Bill J. Moody, Paul Simpkins, Mark Robbins, Gene Hocutt and Joe Cook. Instead, the concert was held at the Gator Bowl under the auspices of the Brennans Jacksonville station WAPE, the Big APE. HOW COME PAUL GODDARD PUSHES HIS GLASSES UP THE BRIDGE OF HIS NOSE? He was lead singer of the Rockin Gibraltars, formed in 1965 by a group of students at Lee High School. I told Jimbo we should all come in with walkers, laughed Beavers. The other name band on the show was the Allman Brothers, they had just released their first album. 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. "I didn't stay up there too long," Brennan says, laughing. Tommy James & Ed Sullivan. I told someone to lower the seat, and when I sat down, it went all the way to the bottom, he said, chuckling. View the Full Page. But Lewis went over his allotted time. But it never happened. His family owned WBAM in Montgomery, and WVOK in Birmingham, both 50,000 watt clear channels stations back in the day. December 3, 1955-As an extra Bonus..here's the advertisement for sister station WBAM, Montgomery, AL, when the very young Elvis Presley appeared. For this little kid from Wetumpka, that was a big, big deal, he said. Springsteen played the 'short end' of the the Beard-Eaves with the curtain up. Now sales manager for a Dothan radio station, Moody fondly remembers working as a teenager at a 1959 WBAM concert featuring singer Connie Francis. Music you could dance to It was just before his popularity exploded. 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). Reactions to these picks -- made by entertainment reporters Matt Wake, Lawrence Specker and Mary Colurso -- ranged from praise to anger, support to dismay. "To go to the concerts was huge. In most cases, the concertswere multi-act affairs, featuring the hottest names the radio stations could secure. Brennanleft the radio business for good in 1982. By today's standards, his solution to the latter problemseems charmingly old-school. 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? A license for the station was issued in 1952. "In those days, you could go to a concert and there was only one back door. That one was epic alright, unlike any other! He would tear up the piano, Moody said, We couldnt find anyone to provide a piano, but he would put on a show. The Quad show was FREE! Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis were on the bill, said Whitwam of their first performance at Garrett Coliseum. Cyril Brennan, who received a Top Program Director award from Billboard Magazine, is retired and lives in Pike Road. We would skip class and work setting up the stages for free admission and backstage passes. Go to the Archives 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. ); 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). 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. ", Several readers mentioned Lynyrd Skynyrd as a given, pointing to various concerts throughout the state. In spirited retaliation, Paul Revere and the Raiders march in lock step across the stage behind performers Jan and Dean. fireworks at the end while playing freebird.??? Moody remembers Roy Orbison being one of the nicer, more polite performers, and the Grass Roots, Paul Revere and Buckinghams being easy to work with. Although he admits to anoccasional pang of longing, looking back on his previouscareer, Brennan is far from retired. ", From UABMBA: "One of the greatest concerts in Alabama was The Rolling Stones with Chuck Berry at Auburn Memorial Coliseum, November 14, 1969. ", From GmanGent: "Alice Cooper Von Braun in 1974's Welcome to my Nightmare Tourone of the most successful tours financially up until that time. For fans, half the fun was trying for a glimpse of the stars at their hotel or coming to and from the coliseum. Grier continued to sing with trios and orchestras, performing at wedding receptions and private parties. ", 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." He wanted us to sign a management contract with him, but we were still under contract with Marshall and . Or Nirvana at Boutwell in 1993?Or Roger McGuinn at Merrimack Hall in 2014? His clothes were all rumpled, and he said, 'Dan, I need to go on later in the show. They moved to LA, minus Grier whod gotten married and had a new baby and didnt want to move. Can you believe it? "One of my favorites was RUSH 1981 Mobile Municipal Auditorium," said tgfmiss. "Play It All Night Long." A close second would be Yes at the Concert Hall in 2013. 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. "Best concert I caught in this state was at Memorial Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1978 Lowell George and Little Feat. 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. Anybody remember that one? The Buckinghams. Neil Diamond. "We all felt very privileged," Bartoletti says. ", From Eric Pendergrass: "Grateful Dead BJCC April 4,5 1995.". . ", Jerry Tavin/Photo courtesy of Everett Collection, From mcarter3: "Uhh. Where's Jimi Hendrix's concert at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1969? Gate Band It was the most important thing in our lives. (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). From Sell it to the tourists: "I saw an amazing Harry Chapin show at the BJCC Concert Hall in around 1978? The Carpenters. 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 . 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. "His 'side' men was the entire Little Feat rhythm section. Bobby Darin. The concert series started around 1960 with such stars as Fabian and Brenda Lee. He plays locally at Ruddles, Coaches Corner in Wetumpka, Young Barn Oyster Pub, and has recorded a CD. The WMSP studios are located on the 3rd floor of . Beth Nielsen joined the group after Shaw left. 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. There was always so much excitement surrounding the shows, Knapp said. big bam shows montgomery, alabama. I always was impressed about how well the bands performed when they were live, even though the Coliseum acoustics werent so good.. Birmingham on May 20, 1967. People came from several states to see these shows. It's not like now, where they have secret tunnels and drive right into the auditorium.". As a result, Captain and Tennille declined ABC's offer to do a second season. 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.). "Radio played the song every twenty minutes. "Tuscaloosa Memorial Coliseum 1972," said Randy Palmer. ", From Jeremy Don McCollough: "Guns N' Roses played the Birmingham race course, it was a muddy mess. So it was a deliberate attempt to identify with people, and to recognize that they were requesting these songs. 6 places sorted by traveler favorites Clear all filters 1. 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. Whitwam remembers little of that show, but subsequent performances are crystal clear. Packed house for a 1960s Big BAM Show at Garrett Coliseum. Dylan with Brian Setzer Orchestra opening (about 1998 ?). 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. . The bands that performed were: The Beach Boys / lou christie / Ian Whitcomb / The Happenings / the hollies / peter and gordon. 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. I believe that city has a particular significance to you. Jones, now 59, also played school dances and armories in a group called The Drones. Dan Brennan, center, with the Grass Roots. It gave them a voice. "It was rewarding, because people seemed to respond to some of the things I was doing. The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC. One big favorite, however, appears to be a '70s date at Legion Field. 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. The Lovin' Spoonful. Anybody else remember seeing Joplin in Tuscaloosa? I think he could call his own shots.". December 24, 1958: Jerry Lee Lewis ; December 12, 1959: Fabian, The Fleetwoods, The Browns, Floyd Robinson and Bobby Lee Trammell 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. 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 Beatles in Alabama? One of the best concerts ever for Blues in Birmingham. Paul Revere & the Raiders. Oh, and some guy named David on slide. It would be tough going back to ballrooms and small clubs after this. The primary reason for the shows was to keep a personal relationship with the listeners, said Dan Brennan, 81, former general manager at WVOK. White guys playing soul music!, Most of the stuff we played was music you could easily dance to, said Dupree. Instant Help Questions? Welcome to my Nightmare in Huntsville Von Braun 1975 and KISS in 1976 at Von Braun. We stayed at the same hotel as them. "Fairgrounds Bham. He also helped to choose and line up some of the concert talent. We were considered the number one soul band in the south. Members: Original members John Key, David Headley and Bob Corley plus David Langford, Mike Mobley, Larry Hughes, Bobby Johnson and Rick Roper. I don't know, I guess people got to trust us. Elton John played three different years and drew over 40,000 total. Those two days in Alabama left a lasting impression on us because it was how we measured the rest of our gigs.. Some of the concerts took place in a single location -- most often, Jacksonville. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. "It didn't matter. "There was a little office backstage, and I remember seeing my father and uncles back there with a security guard," Bartoletti says. "Elviswas an opening act," Brennan says. 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. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I've got to change clothes and everything.' It was everything. "We're big on memories," Brennan says. They enjoy reminiscing about the stars, the shows and the fans who made it possible. ", 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. Thanks to Donnie Brennan for the Elvis photos. The Beach Boys were fresh-faced headliners that night, riding high on the success of hits such as "I Get Around," "Surfer Girl," "Surfin' U.S.A,""Help Me, Rhonda" and "California Girls." Published by at February 16, 2022. "Two guitars and a stool. Steve Lander, who originally booked Harvest at the Kove in 1975, has offered the Blue Iguana free for the night. She remembers her father's words with startling clarity, along with the thrill she experiencedwhile sitting in the front row. what channel is the cw on spectrum in ohio, nombres de cremas para hongos en la cabeza, lasd background interview,