big bam shows montgomery, alabama

For Alabama radio pioneer, life was a Shower of Stars Go to the Archives So many great City Stages performances: Chuck Berry (backed my some of Birmingham's finest), James Brown, Johnny Cash (right after Randy Newman! That way I could see the stars and hear the music better. Although he admits to anoccasional pang of longing, looking back on his previouscareer, Brennan is far from retired. I said, 'Cyril, what do you think we ought to do?' It feels good. Her harmonies with Eddie and Jimbo were legendary, and thus the group found its new name. From 1963 to 73 the Big BAM shows and their counterpart in Birmingham, the Shower of Stars shows, presented four concerts a year. Dislike Share. Grier continued to sing with trios and orchestras, performing at wedding receptions and private parties. 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. former wcti reporters; winter village montreal; western new england university greek life; 1980 camaro z28 for sale in canada. snapchat chat bitmoji peeking. With no sound checks between acts, group would run on stage and begin playing almost immediately. The Rockin' Gibraltars, Montgomery, 1960s. Thousands of Beatles fans were ready to twist and shout in the Southeast, and the Brennan clan had made it happen. DMX. By today's standards, his solution to the latter problemseems charmingly old-school. December 3, 1955-As an extra Bonus..here's the advertisement for sister station WBAM, Montgomery, AL, when the very young Elvis Presley appeared. (It was free.) 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 . Nov 2011 Prime Montgomery by Bob Corley - Issuu One show in particular stands out. Vocalist in Salem, Alabama 1,320 views on fandalism. The audience was huge, sold out, 10,000 or more. Rich Thomas Weather. "Little Feat at Boutwell mid 70s. Fans also rushed to nominate their favorites when asked for feedback. 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. I also went to one free concert on the old Quad (Woods Hall) in the late 60s that featured Linda Ronstadt (backed up by the Eagles). 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. . on. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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). "They would be paying the acts, literally, in cash. blues show montgomery, al 2021. guildford school of acting auditions; gilroy google font alternative; cuisinart steamer insert; Blog Post Title February 26, 2018. "Excuse me---did I miss the ROLLING STONES STEEL WHEELS TOUR??????????????????" Big Lots Prattville: Furniture, mattress & home product store in The most entertaining act? If you were a teenager anywhere near Montgomery in the mid-60s and early 70s, the concert scene didnt get any better than the fanfests known as the Big BAM shows. Members: Original members Larry Hoyle, Johnny Hassett and Ron Howard, plus Chris Seymour, Johnny Long, Jr. and Craig Young. 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. Big Bam Show. ", Jerry Tavin/Photo courtesy of Everett Collection, From mcarter3: "Uhh. Where's Jimi Hendrix's concert at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1969? Bama Country 98.9 - WBAM - Montgomery's Most Country Performers would play to more than 10,000 at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery Friday night (for Tommy James in 1967 it just seemed like 30,000), then pack-up and play three shows in Birmingham on Saturday. "Bill" Brennan, Billy Benns (Jr.) and Mrs. Luella B. Aldridge. 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. 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. There was this woman who was playing the bongos who literally passed out playing. I said, 'Elvis, I'm sorry, but we can't accommodate you, because it is his show.' . According to Ben Flanagan's story for AL.com, the band also played in Tuscaloosa at Memorial Coliseum, now Coleman Coliseum. Though theyve had other jobs over the years, neither Jones nor Beavers have stopped playing music. . That one was epic alright, unlike any other! Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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? The station's transmitter is located in the town of Grady, Alabama. 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 it was a deliberate attempt to identify with people, and to recognize that they were requesting these songs. Melissa Parker (Smashing Interviews Magazine): Tommy, I'm in Montgomery, Alabama. 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. We were waiting at the Holiday Inn, in the bar at the hotel having a beer. Springsteen played the 'short end' of the the Beard-Eaves with the curtain up. The Untold Story of the Beatles' Desegregation Rider He was lead singer of the Rockin Gibraltars, formed in 1965 by a group of students at Lee High School. WBAM-FM Wikipedia Republished // WIKI 2 Keyboardist Mark Marvin will fill in for Eddie Wohlford who is unable to attend. "Probably the most famous and beloved would be Buckingham Nicks at Boutwell in January of 1975. ", "This is so subjective and there are way too many to pick from. . Ask anyone who was there. Edgar Winter Group with the Frankenstein tour," said Rick Allen. One big favorite, however, appears to be a '70s date at Legion Field. "There was a police line for the Beatles to run through, and the stage was built up so people couldn't get to them.". They would buy so many tickets in advance, we didn't have to worry about whether they were going to come or not.". People would come night after night, said Lander, who owns Bama Lanes in Montgomery and Prattville. 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. We enjoyed all the years we spent in radio, said Dan Brennan, who now owns a video production company in Birmingham. HOW COME PAUL GODDARD PUSHES HIS GLASSES UP THE BRIDGE OF HIS NOSE? Beth Nielsen joined the group after Shaw left. More on the Grateful Dead's 1995 shows in Birmingham, from AL.com's "Lost Stories" series. Bottom (l-r), Ronnie Monroe, Bobby Dupree and Rusty Crumpton. Wed go all over, even the Old Dutch in Panama City.. By March 15, 2021 No Comments. Shop Now Bell. 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. "This was a daytime concert that seemed like a war zone with fireworks flying everywhere. The Other Side of Montgomery: Growing Up White in the Birthplace of the There are still a lot of local bands out there, said Sonny Grier, lead singer with the Rockin Gibraltars. He plays locally at Ruddles, Coaches Corner in Wetumpka, Young Barn Oyster Pub, and has recorded a CD. Office Phone: (334) 244-0961 Office Fax: (334) 279-9563 Rick Peters - President / General Manager Jennifer Pestrichelli - Director of Sales Jay Scott - Operations Manager Shelby Ingram - Promotions Director Rinoplastia; Blefaroplastia Toni loved doing the show, but Daryl, who never enjoyed being on camera, did not. Lindley. He never collectedconcertposters, handbills orother pieces of memorabilia. We would skip class and work setting up the stages for free admission and backstage passes. 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. 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. Her very own father was on stage, standing closeto four of the most famous musicians in the world. Id never seen anybody get an audience so excited, Dan Brennan remembered. BOBBY GOLDSBORO. The Rolling Stones. Solid show during a year held in very high regard by a large number of Deadheads. In Birmingham, we know of only one man who's had the honor: Dan Brennan, a former radio host, station manager, concert promoter and prime moverat WVOK-AM. We rode up the . Emerson, Lake and Palmer in QUAD sound - Tuscaloosa circa 1973. I don't even think it was a sell out. I remember some of them telling us they came to every show that whole year.". 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. big bam shows montgomery, alabama - joannascottcreative.com I'll never forget it. It was important to us.". His family owned WBAM in Montgomery, and WVOK in Birmingham, both 50,000 watt clear channels stations back in the day. A recent Skype video call to his U.K. home found Whitwam fondly remembering the Hermits Big BAM Show performances. big bam shows montgomery, alabama - mmischools.com ), "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.'". He was a very special guy. Can you believe it? Reactions to these picks -- made by entertainment reporters Matt Wake, Lawrence Specker and Mary Colurso -- ranged from praise to anger, support to dismay. That radio station had its concerts, too, dubbedJet-Fli Spectaculars, at the Soldiers &Sailors Memorial Auditorium. big bam shows montgomery, alabama "We'd camp out at the door, on the steps and wait. "My brother, he was always a little bit of a gambler," Brennan says. It was just the coolest thing.". The station's studios are . Keith Richards was almost electrocuted when his guitar grounded on a mic. How many people have been able to say this at a concert, facing a roaring crowd? The Rogues of Montgomery, AL cut one great rock single, "Put You Down" b/w a version of "Stormy Monday Blues". Dan Brennan, center, backstage at the Shower of Stars with with Paul Revere & the Raiders. In Brennan's view, that's a satisfying legacy. It was great! rock pilgrimage Add the extra costs associated with security guards and insurance, and hiring bands is not a profitable option for many club owners. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that is rarely revealed within the pages of history texts. BB King's penultimate show at the Alabama (sitting but still playing and not drifting into non sequitur land). Signature songs include Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison), Cryin (Roy Orbison). ", "Rolling Stones in Auburn '69," said James Robert Chambless. 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." Pitiful (Otis Redding) sound so much better with real horns.. 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.. ", From Jeremy Don McCollough: "Guns N' Roses played the Birmingham race course, it was a muddy mess. They had the Stones in about 1963-64, with Brian Jones before he died. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC. Dan Brennan recalls the reaction from performers. ", From Steve Wayne: "Guns N' Roses at the Birmingham Race Course. Packed house for a 1960s Big BAM Show at Garrett Coliseum. 9781603060554: The Other Side of Montgomery: Growing Up White in the We were considered the number one soul band in the south. The most popular group, both Brennan brothers agree, was Hermans Hermits (see sidebar below). No mention does anyone else remember that?". After the Beatles press conference, where the Fab Four were munching on potato chips, Diane Brennan, daughter of Cyril and Louise, grabbed the partially consumed shards in fear that her sister Donnie would eat them. The Big BAM Shows. Oxford American | He Made You Look into the Abyss and Like It But theres not a whole lot of money because theres no place for them to play. We played all the way through college, says Long. Yes, the Beatles' performance was "a really big show," as Ed Sullivan wouldhave said. Elvis Presley. I've seen so many good shows in Birmingham over the years! "We started in 1947, and if you think about it, you didn't have very much television in those days," Brennan says in a recent interview. "Fairgrounds Bham. 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. 3. In spirited retaliation, Paul Revere and the Raiders march in lock step across the stage behind performers Jan and Dean. Their annual Big Bam shows, and Show of Stars were traveling medicine shows and featured Lou Christie, Roy Orbison, The Animals. The show is a spin-off from MTV 's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast appeared. We put on a heck of a show, said Grier. 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. Both stations played Top 40 hits of the day, and the concerts were the Brennans gifts to a loyal radio audience. The Rogues recorded the 45 in February of 1966, for MBM Records, a Birmingham, Alabama label that goes back to the early '60s. The Grass Roots. 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. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC. Big Bam Show - Newspapers.com I kept going to at least one show a year through about 1968, he said. Biography Toni Tennille 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. Tommy James & the Shondells. Were a dance band.. "Elviswas an opening act," Brennan says. shimano ep8 630wh battery range The band also played Birmingham in May 1977, according to this story by Madison Underwood. THE 5 BEST Upcoming Concerts & Shows in Montgomery - Tripadvisor We'd be there from the crack of dawn until midnight. Rare Earth. Roy Orbison. They had easy backstage access, as well, and would confidently sashay throughout the venue. 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. 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.. 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. Beavers and Jones will be joined by former members Kelvin Holly, who works in the recording industry in Muscle Shoals and tours with Neil Young, and Bill Hinds, who tours with the Paul Thorn Band. It made me feel good in a way, he said. It was the summer after my senior year, said Grier, who was joined by Keith Brewer on bass, Bobby Dupree on drums, Rusty Crumpton on guitar, Ronnie Monroe on trumpet and Ed Sanford on keyboards. We didn't make any money.". 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. But from the . 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. WBAM-FM - History - Former Programming and Personalities But Lewis went over his allotted time. Patsy Cline Performs Her Final Show Country Music Memories; Most Wanted Music: 2023's Country and Americana Album Releases; Follow Us. When Cher and Sonny first met in 1963, she was 16, while he was 27 and married (he and his first wife were separated). Garrett Coliseum, Montgomery, AL, USA Concert Setlists | setlist.fm Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. He never asked forautographs. 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. It will be the first time theyve have been together since a reunion benefit at a local club in 2007. Shop Patio & Garden, including exclusive patio furniture from brands like Broyhill. This was the last concert they did before going back to LA and joining the band Fleetwood Mac. But it never happened. Think it was 1977," says Craigmo. Big Bam Show Montgomery, Al 1960s F.U.N. Famous quotes containing the words historical and/or videos: "I'm so. 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 . We played a lot of soul music, the Beatles, the Stones, he said. The Carpenters. ", 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. It was the most important thing in our lives. We do everything from Jerry Jeff Walker to the Grateful Dead to Van Morrison, says Pappas. [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. ", From cj75: "Grateful Dead, 5/17/77 in Tuscaloosa. He and his wife live north of Prattville in a 1930s shack, have three grown children and are expecting their first grandchild. 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.. It would be tough going back to ballrooms and small clubs after this. For more, visit Rich's YouTube Channel . porsche cayman 987 bodykit; efficiencies for rent in riverview, fl. "Put You Down" was written by lead guitarist Max Kendrick and vocalist Rich Gainer. In one fell swoop, he was in hot demand. And so he gave them -- the only show in the whole country that did this -- we gave them a flat $50,000, which was pretty good in those days. It was a real happening thing.. ", Several readers mentioned Lynyrd Skynyrd as a given, pointing to various concerts throughout the state. They responded, swiftly and passionately, to a recent post listing 31 of the greatest shows at venues throughout the state. Top (l-r), Keith Brewer, Ed Sanford and Sonny Grier. Hank Williams was another frequent live on-air performer. "Eight Days a Week -- The Touring Years. From Brian Willis: "Any of Alabama's June Jams. I was there both times. Paul Revere & the Raiders. Nothing else necessary. It gave them a voice. 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. Both stations played Top 40 hits of the day, and the concerts were the Brennans' gifts to a loyal radio audience. Montgomery's home for country music favorites like Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert . Once solo and once with a 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. Instant Help Questions? 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. 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. We get young people, folks our age, and older folks, he said proudly. 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. Jerry Lee Lewis, the Brennans said. Members: Original members John Key, David Headley and Bob Corley plus David Langford, Mike Mobley, Larry Hughes, Bobby Johnson and Rick Roper. Top (l-r), Keith Brewer, Ed Sanford and Sonny Grier. The Turtles | Concerts Wiki | Fandom Alabama State Coliseum (1951-1963) Garrett Coliseum (1963-) Oct 5 2019 Chuck Berry was an intro-act, great show he put on. . Make Favorite Store Contact 1957 Cobbs Ford Rd. He recalls the popular hangouts for older teens and the legendary "Big Bam Shows" of the period. Im content where Im at, said Beavers, except I could lose about 80 pounds.. I think he could call his own shots.". Clipping found in Alabama Journal in Montgomery, Alabama on Mar 24, 1966. Brennan, now 86, introduced the Beatles at the Gator Bowlin Jacksonville, Fla., when the Fab Four played there on Sept. 11, 1964. ", From Art Meripol: "U2's Zoo Tour at Legion was pretty fun from the floor.". I said, 'Well, this is Roy's show. The Show That Almost Happened We'll have to ask him. That was one of my first big gigs - the Big BAM shows! These are just a few of the acts presentedby the Brennans during the 1950s, '60s and early '70s. Tickets cost $3 apiece. Bob was producing a medical documentary in Alabama, and also was a promoter for Evil Kneival and Chill Wills. The Four Seasons. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. "Ringo said, 'I'm not getting up there unless you build me a bannister around this thing.' Just a few of the letters WBAM received from fans providing input into the acts they wished to see at the shows.

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