big bam shows montgomery, alabama11 Apr big bam shows montgomery, alabama
Keyboardist Mark Marvin will fill in for Eddie Wohlford who is unable to attend. "It didn't matter. Bobby Dupree (L) and Sonny Grier of the Rockin' Gibraltars. He and his wife live north of Prattville in a 1930s shack, have three grown children and are expecting their first grandchild. Find the answers to any question. In most cases, the concertswere multi-act affairs, featuring the hottest names the radio stations could secure. ); 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). Search the Largest Online Newspaper Archive. The 7 p.m.show-- billedas a music battle between the England and the United States-- also includedtheRighteous Brothers, Marty Robbins, Sonny James, Skeeter Davis, Del Reeves, Archie "Rindercella" Campbell and Cannibal and the Headhunters. The concert series started around 1960 with such stars as Fabian and Brenda Lee. 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! A close second would be Yes at the Concert Hall in 2013. Ticket prices were never more expensive than $4.00. The following year 13 acts played in WVOKs Shower of Stars show at Legion Field in Birmingham. 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 Rockin' Gibraltars, Montgomery, 1960s. The Beatles were paid a fee of $50,000 -- a hefty sum in those days, Brennan says -- and in the thick of the civil rights movement, the band's contract specified that they wouldn't perform for a segregated audience. "We all felt very privileged," Bartoletti says. I was very happy with doing the work I did. "Play It All Night Long." 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. Steve Lander, who originally booked Harvest at the Kove in 1975, has offered the Blue Iguana free for the night. Its better than not being remembered at all.. Joni Mitchell at Tuscaloosa 1975 would be third," said jarobertson. I tasted my first grits there my very first grit (laughs). Neil Diamond. George Harrison is behind Dan on the left, John Lennon on the right. Joplin died on Oct. 4, 1970. For this little kid from Wetumpka, that was a big, big deal, he said. Dislike Share. The early concert didn't begin until it was time for the second one, but it was worth the wait. Their annual Big Bam shows, and Show of Stars were traveling medicine shows and featured Lou Christie, Roy Orbison, The Animals. Toni loved doing the show, but Daryl, who never enjoyed being on camera, did not. In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero f. Home; My Books; Browse . ", From StolibGeezer: "Zevon played the Alabama twice. "There was a little office backstage, and I remember seeing my father and uncles back there with a security guard," Bartoletti says. And if we hadn't had (Hurricane Dora), we would have made a lot of money. Welcome to my Nightmare in Huntsville Von Braun 1975 and KISS in 1976 at Von Braun. Go to the Archives WBAM Big Bam Shows; Dan's Dusty Discs WBAM; WBAM Pictures; Read more about this topic: WBAM-FM, History. ", From GmanGent: "Alice Cooper Von Braun in 1974's Welcome to my Nightmare Tourone of the most successful tours financially up until that time. One was the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama, which was to host a concert on September 10 th. Its effortless., Even after all these years, agreed Jones. (L-R) Bob Corley, David Headley, Cary Green, Jeffery Johnson, Bob Pike, John Key. Memorial Coliseum, now known as Coleman Coliseum. One of Brennan's favorite anecdotes concerns a young Elvis Presley, making waves and jostling for position before a concerton Dec. 3,1955, at Garrett Coliseum. 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. Wish I had gotten one. 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. "Times have changed so," said a wistful Peek, the Shower of Stars devotee. We rode up the . They didn't come to hear me; they came to hear the Rolling Stones.'". Then another. One of its earliest Big BAM Shows featured Elvis Presley as he ascended to fame, on the same bill with Roy Acuff. Edgar Winter Group with the Frankenstein tour," said Rick Allen. 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. [2] Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning to sports talk under the WMSP callsign in 1995. No mention does anyone else remember that?". Once solo and once with a band. Hank Williams was another frequent live on-air performer. ", 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. Dan'sbrother, Cyril Brennan, who lived in Montgomery, held several titles during his tenure at WBAM: chief engineer, station manager and program director among them. Dan Brennan at the mic introducing the Beatles at their Gator Bowl appearance in Jacksonville, Florida. nellson nutraceutical revenue; arlington catholic basketball roster; jack cawood and suzy hunt; lawn vacuum for acorns rental. 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. 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. Alicia McLeod - Vocals. You can either do that, or you will not have a place to change. A memorable night that I won't ever forget. We would skip class and work setting up the stages for free admission and backstage passes. A real commercial from the 60's with announcer Bill J Moody .Exciting times as a teen.growing up in Montgomery. TheRolling Stones were closing the gap quickly, though, with a tougher, bluesier songbook that included "The Last Time," "Play With Fire" and "Time Is On My Side." 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. They had the Stones in about 1963-64, with Brian Jones before he died. "The Stranger album had just come out and was only beginning to get some air play. It was just the coolest thing.". 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. 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. Brennan also remembers that Starr requested reinforcements to the stage area near his drum kit, because strong gusts lingered after the hurricane. Make Favorite Store Contact 1957 Cobbs Ford Rd. 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. With no sound checks between acts, group would run on stage and begin playing almost immediately. 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 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. "That was before he became very big. Wed go all over, even the Old Dutch in Panama City.. Most recently they performed earlier this year for a benefit show for ailing former bandmate Keith Brewer, who died in April of cancer. 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. Despite her young age -- she was 7 that year -- Bartoletti felt another emotion at the Gator Bowl: extreme pride. Big Bam Show Montgomery, Al 1960s F.U.N. I just went to the Coliseum for the music. Hello? 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. "I'm so old. 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. BB King's penultimate show at the Alabama (sitting but still playing and not drifting into non sequitur land). "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. We'd get hamburgers and bring them back, with someone always holding our place. The Buckinghams. We were waiting at the Holiday Inn, in the bar at the hotel having a beer. ", From cj75: "Grateful Dead, 5/17/77 in Tuscaloosa. The resulting concerts -- which evolved into a series called the WVOK Shower of Stars in Birmingham, the Big BAM shows in Montgomery and the Big APE Convention in Jacksonville -- became enormously popular with radio listeners. Clayton, Hayward and Gradney. Just a few of the letters WBAM received from fans providing input into the acts they wished to see at the shows. Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. He said, 'We're going to put both of them on.' They moved to LA, minus Grier whod gotten married and had a new baby and didnt want to move. 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. Formed: 1963, Troy. Packed house for a 1960s Big BAM Show at Garrett Coliseum. big bam shows montgomery, alabama. He wanted us to sign a management contract with him, but we were still under contract with Marshall and . I can sing as good or better now than I did then, said Grier. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. "Rickwood Field, late 70's. We always had the feeling, said Dan Brennan, that it was more than just a job., It was the golden era of rock and roll, said Moody. 2. The WMAQ slogan came from a contest where winners would have to answer the phone "WMAQ's gonna make me rich," so you had people using the phrase anytime. $14 million dollar house maine; FACIAL. From Brian Willis: "Any of Alabama's June Jams. "I felt that I was lucky to be able to have the kind of job I had," Brennan says. White guys playing soul music!, Most of the stuff we played was music you could easily dance to, said Dupree. I had to play the whole set standing up!. A license for the station was issued in 1952. Bob was producing a medical documentary in Alabama, and also was a promoter for Evil Kneival and Chill Wills. I said, 'Cyril, what do you think we ought to do?' I said, 'Well, you've got a choice here. I missed a bunch more, though!". By nature, talent and inclination, Brennanwasentirely suited to the family business; thousands of fans knew his voice and remembered his name. The most popular group, both Brennan brothers agree, was Hermans Hermits (see sidebar below). Its amazing the life we got to live.. His clothes were all rumpled, and he said, 'Dan, I need to go on later in the show. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC. WVOK would produce another show at Legion Field before the station left the concert business -- the Osmonds and Springfield Revival appeared there on Aug. 15, 1973 -- but for the most part, Municipal Auditorium remained home base for the Shower of Stars. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. Of all the concerts I've been to in my lifetime, this one was the most memorable. "Ringo said, 'I'm not getting up there unless you build me a bannister around this thing.' At least 25 people tried to jump the stage during the concert and were knocked backward into the crowd by gigantic stage bouncers! He kicked it off with (what else?) Top (l-r), Keith Brewer, Ed Sanford and Sonny Grier. This doesn't even scratch the surface! The Rolling Stones. 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. It was elbow to elbow in there, remembered drummer Tommy Beavers. He was replaced by Johnny Townsend from Tuscaloosa, who was living with Duane and Gregg Allman in LA. And not just the concerts, but the whole experience building up to it. The Big BAM was WBAM, the 50,000-watt AM radio station owned by the Brennan family, whose other Alabama station was Birminghams WVOK. It was great! 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. "Bill" Brennan, Billy Benns (Jr.) and Mrs. Luella B. Aldridge. I'll never forget it. Brennan, now 86, introduced the Beatles at the Gator Bowlin Jacksonville, Fla., when the Fab Four played there on Sept. 11, 1964. ", From shapeshiftinhmojo: "The Allman Brothers played at the National Guard Armory as both the Almond Joys and as the Allman Brothers in the 1960's as well as Tuscaloosa in the seventies when they were huge. THE PROMOTIONAL POSTER OF THE WBAM, BIG BAM WINTER SPECTACULAR, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1967! We were all so nervous we wore dark sunglasses so nobody could see how scared we were, said Dupree. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that is rarely revealed within the pages of history texts. "You didn't have to know anything about guitar to realize that he was one of the best ever to take the stage. The station's studios are . Yes, the Beatles' performance was "a really big show," as Ed Sullivan wouldhave said. "Radio played the song every twenty minutes. We had a fabulous time.. The mothership landed in the BJCC that night. Sonny Grier is another longtime Montgomery band member who still plays music. "My late husband was owner of Peace Concerts, he brought hundreds of concerts to Birmingham, all over Alabama and southeast from 1970-1975," said Shari Graye. Tommy James, of Tommy James and the Shondells, describing his appearance at the WBAM and WVOK Summer Shows in 1966 (from Me, the Mob and the Music). So I went out and introduced Bobby Edwards, and he sang songs, and I came back about half an hour later, and I said, 'Now, here's Bobby Edwards!' go to da moon copy and paste. The Fabulous Shades The football stadiumposed a few extra challenges, Brennan says, from seating assignments to sound quality to weather preparation. ", "This is so subjective and there are way too many to pick from. Two years later WBAM went country and the station was later sold. Back then, thats what music was about, remembers Bobby Dupree, 63, drummer with The Rockin Gibraltars, a popular Montgomery-based group in the 60s. By today's standards, his solution to the latter problemseems charmingly old-school. Music lovers would line up at each venue, some arriving hours in advance, then rush inside to secure their favorite general-admission seats. ", Several readers mentioned Lynyrd Skynyrd as a given, pointing to various concerts throughout the state. "Eight Days a Week -- The Touring Years. I think he could call his own shots.". That was a lot of money. "Put You Down" was written by lead guitarist Max Kendrick and vocalist Rich Gainer. 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. Alabama State Coliseum (1951-1963) Garrett Coliseum (1963-) Oct 5 2019 J Jackie Culpepper 662 followers More information WBAM Big Bam Shows Remembered Record Case Montgomery Growing Up 60s Old Things Teen Memories Remember Videos ", From bamamaam: "What about the lynyrd skynyrd concert at rickwood field in the '70's.? Hes been a school principal and now sells wholesale art, although business has been suffering due to the economy. I've got to change clothes and everything.' 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. (The station's nickname, "the Mighty 690," referred to its spot on the AM dial.). 'I did it my way.'". Formed: 1972, Tuscaloosa. When I got on stage the drum kit seat was way too high. He plays locally at Ruddles, Coaches Corner in Wetumpka, Young Barn Oyster Pub, and has recorded a CD. Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning 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 Vocalist in Salem, Alabama 1,320 views on fandalism. He doesnt keep up with Johnny Townsend, but remains friends with Rusty Crumpton and Ed Sanford, who is a successful artist in Los Angeles. We were the opening act and it was the biggest crowd we had ever played before, nearly 30,000 people. ", From Ken Cole: "I was at Jerry Lee Lewis in Boutwell in the mid '60s when I was a kid. 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? Shop Patio & Garden, including exclusive patio furniture from brands like Broyhill. Think it was 1977," says Craigmo. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The band's management initially asked for 85 percent of the ticket proceeds or $25,000, whichever was greater, Brennan says. WMSP (740 AM, Sports Radio 740) is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, USA. The Fab Four wouldnt play to segregated audiences, and at that time this was the case in Alabama. Show Hide article text (OCR) The Big Bam shows in Montgomery were on my list," said Jack Boles. Iron Butterfly. For more, visit Rich's YouTube Channel . One of the best concerts ever for Blues in Birmingham. Its magic, said Beavers. "It was quite a thing.". He showed up about five minutes before his show was to go on. "Rolling Stones, October 5, 1989, Legion Field," said Emily A. I told Jimbo we should all come in with walkers, laughed Beavers. I was there both times. The Temptations and The Supremes, The TCB Tour, Auburn University, 1972. This might have swelled a lesser man's head, but for Brennan, it was all about connecting with the listeners. We do everything from Jerry Jeff Walker to the Grateful Dead to Van Morrison, says Pappas. 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. A guy during intermission pulled his hankee out of his pockes and a gun fell out and fired a round into the row od seats in front of us. Big Bam Show . "Lynyrd Skynyrd, after Montrose featuring Sammy Hagar July 4th, 1975 at Rickwood Field," said Bamabadger62. (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). 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). The Lovin' Spoonful. Jones, now 59, also played school dances and armories in a group called The Drones. Read reviews from world's largest community for readers. 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. Lou Christie was huge in Montgomery. Brennanleft the radio business for good in 1982. ", From rtrmark: "Alice Cooper. Now sales manager for a Dothan radio station, Moody fondly remembers working as a teenager at a 1959 WBAM concert featuring singer Connie Francis. A story by Ben Flanagan of AL.com, looking back at concerts at the coliseum, also mentions Joplin. "I'm so. Were a dance band.. The bands would come in cars -- just plain old cars -- and they'd get their guitars out and walk past you. Rock 'n' roll had just started, and you were right in the middle of it.". 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.. ", From Don Haley Benson: "Bruce Springsteen Born in the USA! The Louvin Brothers. "We gave everybody who came a free rain parka. One show in particular stands out. Deep South was incorporated in late July of 1950 with a capitalization of $60,000. It is amazing to think that was 41 years ago. But from the . Peter (Asher) and Gordon (Waller), Big BAM Show. "They would be paying the acts, literally, in cash. The eruption from the crowd was louder than expected but the lights were so blinding, we could not see the audience. "In those days, you could go to a concert and there was only one back door. Yet. Any of the Yes shows in Birmingham! I tried to get us all to dress up as the Fruit of the Loom guys but no one wanted to., For musicians who played together for years, there wont be a need to practice much, if at all. How many people have been able to say this at a concert, facing a roaring crowd? Patsy Cline. It was electric. 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. The band has undergone several incarnations. Cosmic Slop was classic, turned that mother out. There was a little jealousy there.". Flintstone House. Things changed a little bit after that. Big Bam Show. Or Nirvana at Boutwell in 1993?Or Roger McGuinn at Merrimack Hall in 2014? The Who played there. Johnny Cash. He even did about 30 seconds of Sweet Home Alabama (that was before that song was worn out). The chips were glued into Dianes scrap book between photos of the Beatles. Procedimientos. As a result, Captain and Tennille declined ABC's offer to do a second season. The Rogues recorded the 45 in February of 1966, for MBM Records, a Birmingham, Alabama label that goes back to the early '60s. I remember some of them telling us they came to every show that whole year.". So many great City Stages performances: Chuck Berry (backed my some of Birmingham's finest), James Brown, Johnny Cash (right after Randy Newman! In spirited retaliation, Paul Revere and the Raiders march in lock step across the stage behind performers Jan and Dean. In one fell swoop, he was in hot demand. They agreed to do it, but they were on one end of it, and the Beach Boys were on the other end of it. "Big Church Night Out" / Newsboys / Sidewalk Prophets / 7eventh Time Down / Blanca / Derek Minor / Brock Gill / Jeremy Willet . From:"Rodney Justo" To:"robert register" Subject:Re: HEY EL NIXO! I don't know, I guess people got to trust us. 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. ", 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." We put on a heck of a show, said Grier. The band also played Birmingham in May 1977, according to this story by Madison Underwood. ", From Steve Wayne: "Guns N' Roses at the Birmingham Race Course. Thats not to say Montgomery area favorite bands cant be seen any more. "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. 6 places sorted by traveler favorites Clear all filters 1. Bobby Darin. ", From TTownTony: "You cannot even imagine the concerts played in Tuscaloosa before the BJCC was built. "There was a little one, and a big one, and we didn't know which was which," Brennan says. "To go to the concerts was huge. "What's that Frank Sinatra song? It was the most important thing in our lives. "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. "We had to import parkas, raincoats from Taiwan, so that was our rain insurance," Brennan says, laughing. At this point, Mick Jagger and his pals were poised to release"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," their first international smash. Carl Perkins. Which concerts will go down in history at Alabama music venues? While Gator Bowl officials relented to a desegregated audience for the concert, two other venues Epstein had chosen were problematic. Oh, and some guy named David on slide.
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