For Alabama radio pioneer, life was a Shower of Stars 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. At least 25 people tried to jump the stage during the concert and were knocked backward into the crowd by gigantic stage bouncers! 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. Hes been a school principal and now sells wholesale art, although business has been suffering due to the economy. In one fell swoop, he was in hot demand. Classics such as Midnight Hour, (Wilson Pickett), Knock on Wood (Eddie Floyd), and Mr. We would always find the artists who were very popular with our audience, and we would try to get them, and we usually were successful.". Their annual Big Bam shows, and Show of Stars were traveling medicine shows and featured Lou Christie, Roy Orbison, The Animals. The Rockin' Rebellions won top honors - beating out 67 other bands from throughout Alabama. Hes been in a few movies, raced sports cars and been inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. ", 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." I believe that city has a particular significance to you. 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. Map of Alabama State, USA - Nations Online Project Garrett Coliseum, in contrast, could hold 10,000+ for a single performance in Montgomery. From kwe: "The best I've seen are all of the Big Bam shows during the '60s in Montgomery, Garrett Coliseum; Eagles, 1977 in Mobile: Fleetwood Mac, 1977 in Bham CC; Atlanta Rhythm Section, 1978 in Troy Sartain; Heart/America, 1985 in Montgomery CC; Stevie Ray Vaughn/Joe Cocker, 1986 in Bham Oak Mtn; Rolling Stones, 1989 in Bham Legion Field; John Fogerty/Willie Nelson, 2006 in Bham Oak Mtn; Chicago, 2011 in Mtgy MPAC. 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. You are free to use the above map for educational and similar purposes; if you publish it online or in print . The Animals. Montgomery | Garage Hangover I've got to change clothes and everything.' He kicked it off with (what else?) Elton John played three different years and drew over 40,000 total. And the Shower of Stars concerts still linger in localmemory. pigella miraculous ladybug power. She came back a few minutes later and absolutely blasted a massive bongo solo. . 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 material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Add the extra costs associated with security guards and insurance, and hiring bands is not a profitable option for many club owners. Nothing else necessary. According to Ben Flanagan's story for AL.com, the band also played in Tuscaloosa at Memorial Coliseum, now Coleman Coliseum. But in the minds of Alabama listeners, WVOK and WBAM ruled supreme, and the stations were closely linked by their concert series. 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. Wed go all over, even the Old Dutch in Panama City.. That was a lot of money. Tickets to these shows were typically $3 to $4. "There was a little one, and a big one, and we didn't know which was which," Brennan says. His current band, The Soul Crackas, does many of the same soul hits the Rockin Gibraltar performed. The Big BAM Shows. Go to the Archives Ticket prices were never more expensive than $4.00. It was everything. "We never had a flop," Brennan says, "but we had some shows that were a little bit bigger than others. Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis were on the bill, said Whitwam of their first performance at Garrett Coliseum. Montgomery, AL | Data USA Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. WMSP - Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core Some of the concerts took place in a single location -- most often, Jacksonville. Grier continued to sing with trios and orchestras, performing at wedding receptions and private parties. Anybody remember that one? ", From Steve Wayne: "Guns N' Roses at the Birmingham Race Course. With an amazing backing band, he proceeded to entertain the entire evening. 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. We enjoyed all the years we spent in radio, said Dan Brennan, who now owns a video production company in Birmingham. blues show montgomery, al 2021 | Future Property Exhibiitons ), "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.'". Dislike Share. Men. Thousands of Beatles fans were ready to twist and shout in the Southeast, and the Brennan clan had made it happen. WBAM-FM - History - Former Programming and Personalities Anybody else remember seeing Joplin in Tuscaloosa? I kept going to at least one show a year through about 1968, he said. Big Bam Fall Spectacular has had 1 concert. Clapton! The Carpenters. 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.. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC. The Temptations and The Supremes, The TCB Tour, Auburn University, 1972. "Times have changed so," said a wistful Peek, the Shower of Stars devotee. 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. big bam shows montgomery, alabama "One of my favorites was RUSH 1981 Mobile Municipal Auditorium," said tgfmiss. Of all the concerts I've been to in my lifetime, this one was the most memorable. They had easy backstage access, as well, and would confidently sashay throughout the venue. 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 . 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. WBAM-FM Wikipedia Republished // WIKI 2 Dan Brennan, center, backstage at the Shower of Stars with with Paul Revere & the Raiders. big bam shows montgomery, alabama - cirujanoplasticoleon.com We played all the way through college, says Long. THE PROMOTIONAL POSTER OF THE WBAM, BIG BAM WINTER SPECTACULAR, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1967! Tickets were priced at$1.50-$5.50 per show, Brennan says, and artists' fees usually ran about $300-$7,500 per act. 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. A real commercial from the 60's with announcer Bill J Moody .Exciting times as a teen.growing up in Montgomery. George Cumuze, RN, Case Manager 4150 Carmichael Court Montgomery, AL 36106 334-270-2274. show . Beavers has played drums for various bands, including Doc Severinson, Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett, winning a Grammy Award for Best Performance by Duo or Group in 1994 while a member of Asleep at the Wheel. He didn't insist onphotos. Melissa Parker (Smashing Interviews Magazine): Tommy, I'm in Montgomery, Alabama. Lindley. Id never seen anybody get an audience so excited, Dan Brennan remembered. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Otherwise . "They would be paying the acts, literally, in cash. ", From ghostreader: "Springsteen, mobile civic center theater may 1976. . Lowell George in his prime," says Bingothatwuzagoody. FACIAL. We played a lot of soul music, the Beatles, the Stones, he said. It made me feel good in a way, he said. [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. I don't even think it was a sell out. WBAM Big Bam Shows; Dan's Dusty Discs WBAM; WBAM Pictures; Read more about this topic: WBAM-FM, History. Roy Orbison. "Excuse me---did I miss the ROLLING STONES STEEL WHEELS TOUR??????????????????" K Jamie Carter Childhood Toys Childhood Memories Camille Redouble Sheila E show bam - enow.com - Content Results ", All three Brennan brothers were ambitious businessmen who worked as a team. Birmingham on May 20, 1967. "I'm so. One big favorite, however, appears to be a '70s date at Legion Field. 100 feet later someone offered us tickets at face value. (His moniker on the air: Dan the Music Man. Cyril Brennan, who received a Top Program Director award from Billboard Magazine, is retired and lives in Pike Road. ", From bamamaam: "What about the lynyrd skynyrd concert at rickwood field in the '70's.? For more, visit Rich's YouTube Channel . The Buckinghams. ", From Denniswingo: "The Grateful Dead in 1978 at the Boutwell Auditorium. ", 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. The Alabama band was the organizer and centerpiece, raising money for charity. big bam shows montgomery, alabama - mmischools.com From Brian Willis: "Any of Alabama's June Jams. 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 only have these pictures of all the concerts we attended from the early 1960's to late 1960's. This one in 1969, was probably the last one I attended. Hendrix only played a limited number of concerts before he died and the one in Tuscaloosa blew the top off Memorial Coliseum. 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. Hal Hodgens of WVOK is second from left. When Cher and Sonny first met in 1963, she was 16, while he was 27 and married (he and his first wife were separated). Jerry Lee Lewis. At the time, Sonny was interested Cher's friend, not her. Her harmonies with Eddie and Jimbo were legendary, and thus the group found its new name. Both Shaw and Chapman have gone on to stardom as performers and songwriters.]. Contact - Bama Country 98.9 - WBAM Gary Puckett & the Union Gap. "We'd camp out at the door, on the steps and wait. (The station's nickname, "the Mighty 690," referred to its spot on the AM dial.). Music you could dance to At this point, Mick Jagger and his pals were poised to release"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," their first international smash. The football stadiumposed a few extra challenges, Brennan says, from seating assignments to sound quality to weather preparation. Her very own father was on stage, standing closeto four of the most famous musicians in the world. He wanted us to sign a management contract with him, but we were still under contract with Marshall and . "We're big on memories," Brennan says. The band also played Birmingham in May 1977, according to this story by Madison Underwood. "Put You Down" was written by lead guitarist Max Kendrick and vocalist Rich Gainer. ", From bhamboost: "Parliament Funkadelic Mothership Connection 1976. big bam shows montgomery, 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. REENADED . "It was a promotional thing for us. The rock band played several times at the Shower of Stars and appeared at one of the last few shows in the concert series, in July 1972. WVOK Shower of Stars | Flickr 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. The Rockin' Rebellions | Birmingham Record Collectors ", From Will-I: "Bruce Springsteen in Auburn in 1975. Yet. 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 . One show in particular stands out. Each episode had a specific theme, mission, or challenge which was accomplished by performing pranks, skateboarding, and enlisting the help of . He was lead singer of the Rockin Gibraltars, formed in 1965 by a group of students at Lee High School. Rock 'n' roll had just started, and you were right in the middle of it.". "(Listeners) would tell us what they liked and didn't like. He wants to go on late in the show.' WMSP - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia 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. ", From GmanGent: "Alice Cooper Von Braun in 1974's Welcome to my Nightmare Tourone of the most successful tours financially up until that time. Keyboardist Mark Marvin will fill in for Eddie Wohlford who is unable to attend. Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. Paul Revere & the Raiders. More on the Grateful Dead's 1995 shows in Birmingham, from AL.com's "Lost Stories" series. ", From Eric Pendergrass: "Grateful Dead BJCC April 4,5 1995.". "Little Feat at Boutwell mid 70s. The Rolling Stones. "Rickwood Field, late 70's. Whitwam, now in his 47th year playing music, is pleased with the makeup of their current audiences. I think he could call his own shots.". It was just before his popularity exploded. 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. Edgar Winter Group with the Frankenstein tour," said Rick Allen. The stage was an immense rectangle glutted with scaffolding and hundreds of klieg lights and a sound system on a board that looked like the skyline of New York at night. They would buy so many tickets in advance, we didn't have to worry about whether they were going to come or not.". 'I did it my way.'". They moved to LA, minus Grier whod gotten married and had a new baby and didnt want to move. The Fabulous Shades We didn't make any money.". Ticket prices were $2 for shows in the early 1960s, gradually increasing to a top price of $5.50, a pittance by todays standards. It wasnt concerts where you played and 500 people sat down and listened to you. There was a little jealousy there.". I'll never forget it. "What's that Frank Sinatra song? The Untold Story of the Beatles' Desegregation Rider Zero , Northwest Florida: 08/22/2010 - 08/29/2010 - Blogger 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. "It didn't matter. ", Jerry Tavin/Photo courtesy of Everett Collection, From mcarter3: "Uhh. Where's Jimi Hendrix's concert at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1969? He plays locally at Ruddles, Coaches Corner in Wetumpka, Young Barn Oyster Pub, and has recorded a CD. December 24, 1958: Jerry Lee Lewis ; December 12, 1959: Fabian, The Fleetwoods, The Browns, Floyd Robinson and Bobby Lee Trammell We'd be there from the crack of dawn until midnight. JLL put on a hell of a show also. The Fab Four wouldnt play to segregated audiences, and at that time this was the case in Alabama. Customer Help Desk I said, 'Well, this is Roy's show. . Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning to sports talk under the WMSP callsign in 1995. "Rolling Stones, October 5, 1989, Legion Field," said Emily A. But theres not a whole lot of money because theres no place for them to play. Its magic, said Beavers. The Who. Chuck Berry was an intro-act, great show he put on. We rode up the . WMSP is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, United States. "Cyril's idea was, 'Tell them to sing, just a little bit, and make sure that we get the right one.' The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC. A recent Skype video call to his U.K. home found Whitwam fondly remembering the Hermits Big BAM Show performances. I remember some of them telling us they came to every show that whole year.". Wish I had gotten one. In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero f. The Other Side of Montgomery book. "Probably the most famous and beloved would be Buckingham Nicks at Boutwell in January of 1975. There was always so much excitement surrounding the shows, Knapp said. Studio Phone Number: (334) 244-9898. Business Office/Studios 4101-A Wall Street Montgomery, AL 36106. WBAM-FM - History - Historical Videos He remembers the Kove days with Harvest/Harmony fondly, not only for the bands music but the people who came to see them. ", From dassani: "I was there Could not have been better! 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.). WBAM Big Bam Shows Remembered - YouTube WMSP - Wikiwand Which concerts will go down in history at Alabama music venues? (L-R) Bob Corley, David Headley, Cary Green, Jeffery Johnson, Bob Pike, John Key.
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