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. 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 . Rinoplastia; Blefaroplastia 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. Gobs of people have asked us when were going to do another reunion. And didn't ever explain to the people what had happened. 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. He was lead singer of the Rockin Gibraltars, formed in 1965 by a group of students at Lee High School. 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. Were a dance band.. ", From UABMBA: "One of the greatest concerts in Alabama was The Rolling Stones with Chuck Berry at Auburn Memorial Coliseum, November 14, 1969. It made me feel good in a way, he said. People would come night after night, said Lander, who owns Bama Lanes in Montgomery and Prattville. "It was a promotional thing for us. And the Shower of Stars concerts still linger in localmemory. Mountain 1971," said Billy Bromberg. View the Full Page. Several others mentioned seeing the Rolling Stones in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. The other name band on the show was the Allman Brothers, they had just released their first album. Think it was 1977," says Craigmo. So it was a deliberate attempt to identify with people, and to recognize that they were requesting these songs. The Righteous Brothers. big bam shows montgomery, alabama. +40 (724) 307.599 Lu - Vi: 9:00 - 18:00; big bam shows montgomery, alabama ", 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. 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. The Rogues recorded the 45 in February of 1966, for MBM Records, a Birmingham, Alabama label that goes back to the early '60s. Go to the Archives The most popular group, both Brennan brothers agree, was Hermans Hermits (see sidebar below). Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis were on the bill, said Whitwam of their first performance at Garrett Coliseum. The Buckinghams. The Fab Four wouldnt play to segregated audiences, and at that time this was the case in Alabama. But Lewis went over his allotted time. Deep South Broadcasting was the licensee of WBAM-AM, 740 kc with 50,000 watts daytime in Montgomery. "Bill" Brennan, Billy Benns (Jr.) and Mrs. Luella B. Aldridge. Most recently they performed earlier this year for a benefit show for ailing former bandmate Keith Brewer, who died in April of cancer. The capsule was opened during a ceremony December 3, but a complete list of its contents were not released at the time. In 2020, the median property value in Montgomery, AL was $121,100, and the homeownership rate was 54.1%. I never chased the stars around to hotels or anything. I'll never forget it. 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. 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. "One of my favorites was RUSH 1981 Mobile Municipal Auditorium," said tgfmiss. Dislike Share. It is amazing to think that was 41 years ago. He wants to go on late in the show.' Members: Original members John Key, David Headley and Bob Corley plus David Langford, Mike Mobley, Larry Hughes, Bobby Johnson and Rick Roper. Nothing else necessary. ", All three Brennan brothers were ambitious businessmen who worked as a team. His wild antics while playing the piano, including jumping on the keyboard, whipped the audience into a frenzy, making his act the most exciting at the time, Cyril Brennan added. "Play It All Night Long." ', "We went over there and asked Roy, and he said, 'No, we're not going to do that. Vocalist in Salem, Alabama 1,320 views on fandalism. The other was Municipal Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, where a show had been set for September 15 th. One show in particular stands out. "In those days, you could go to a concert and there was only one back door. Alicia McLeod - Vocals. "Ringo said, 'I'm not getting up there unless you build me a bannister around this thing.' J Jackie Culpepper 662 followers More information WBAM Big Bam Shows Remembered Record Case Montgomery Growing Up 60s Old Things Teen Memories Remember Videos They didn't come to hear me; they came to hear the Rolling Stones.'". The wildest thing other than the Troggs rocking out to "Wild Thing" and whipping around long dirty hanks of British hair was Lou Christie. WMSP (740 AM, Sports Radio 740) is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, USA. 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. Bell. He recalls the popular hangouts for older teens and the legendary "Big Bam Shows" of the period. "Cyril's idea was, 'Tell them to sing, just a little bit, and make sure that we get the right one.' We played all the way through college, says Long. 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. The Byrds. From Brian Willis: "Any of Alabama's June Jams. The Brennan Brothers were radio broadcast innovators of the 1950s and 60s, when they owned and operated powerhouse stations in Jacksonville, Chattanooga, and . I've seen so many good shows in Birmingham over the years! The Troggs. Carl Perkins. There was a little jealousy there.". Dan Brennan, center, backstage at the Shower of Stars with with Paul Revere & the Raiders. Ticket prices were never more expensive than $4.00. The . It would be tough going back to ballrooms and small clubs after this. The father of six and grandfather of two currently lives in Montgomery and plays with the Bama Breeze Band. Dan Brennan, center, with the Grass Roots. 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. "He said, 'Dan, I like to play for you here in town, but I don't want you to ever book me on a show like this again. "There was a police line for the Beatles to run through, and the stage was built up so people couldn't get to them.". ", Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. We enjoyed all the years we spent in radio, said Dan Brennan, who now owns a video production company in Birmingham. Its effortless., Even after all these years, agreed Jones. Fans would mail their orders to the station, requesting a specific showtime, and the envelopes often included suggestions for artists they'd like to see. Published by at February 16, 2022. 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. Other notable former personalities included Bill J. Moody, Paul Simpkins, Mark Robbins, Gene Hocutt and Joe Cook. There are still a lot of local bands out there, said Sonny Grier, lead singer with the Rockin Gibraltars. Their big prize was three VOX . The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC. It was a clear channel station that covered over 90 counties in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, and could be heard everywhere. We didnt play where people sat around and drank. Yet. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. ", From rtrmark: "Alice Cooper. We'll have to ask him. Categories . Hal Hodgens of WVOK is second from left. But in the minds of Alabama listeners, WVOK and WBAM ruled supreme, and the stations were closely linked by their concert series. Of all the concerts I've been to in my lifetime, this one was the most memorable. A buddy and I went down hoping for a miracle and some guy offered us two tickets for $10 bucks each which we gladly paid. Jerry Lee Lewis, the Brennans said. Beth Nielsen joined the group after Shaw left. 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. Some of the items will go on exhibit starting Thursday at the Alabama. Find the answers to any question. We put on a heck of a show, said Grier. When was the last concert at Big Bam Fall Spectacular? Lou Christie was huge in Montgomery. BOBBY GOLDSBORO. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. Memorial Coliseum, now known as Coleman Coliseum. From Billy Bromberg: "Led Zeppelin 1973, Coleman Coliseum." (In 1965, Legion Field could seat more than 68,000 people.) In Brennan's view, that's a satisfying legacy. It was everything. In most cases, the concertswere multi-act affairs, featuring the hottest names the radio stations could secure. While Gator Bowl officials relented to a desegregated audience for the concert, two other venues Epstein had chosen were problematic. Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning ", From David Hester: "Eagles at Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville in 1975. He plays locally at Ruddles, Coaches Corner in Wetumpka, Young Barn Oyster Pub, and has recorded a CD. Whitwam, now in his 47th year playing music, is pleased with the makeup of their current audiences. ", From cj75: "Grateful Dead, 5/17/77 in Tuscaloosa. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. It was just before his popularity exploded. More like this Cheerleading Pictures Cheerleading Uniforms Girls Knee Socks Saddle Shoes Long Socks Roller Derby Time Capsule Cheer Up Female Athletes Cheerleaders 1960-70s- Loving the knee socks, saddle shoes, and huge pom poms! ", The Birmingham News file photo/Philip Barr. They changed their name to Heart before eventually folding. "We gave everybody who came a free rain parka. One of the Beach Boys told me it was the biggest talent show hed ever been in!. When Cher and Sonny first met in 1963, she was 16, while he was 27 and married (he and his first wife were separated). Big Bam Fall Spectacular has had 1 concert. Edgar Winter Group with the Frankenstein tour," said Rick Allen. Garrett Coliseum, in contrast, could hold 10,000+ for a single performance in Montgomery. [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. Im content where Im at, said Beavers, except I could lose about 80 pounds.. 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). 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. Big Bam Show . The Big Bam shows in Montgomery were on my list," said Jack Boles. ", From StolibGeezer: "Zevon played the Alabama twice. Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. "I don't have any regrets," hesays. 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. 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. Clapton! Whitwam remembers little of that show, but subsequent performances are crystal clear. We occasionally wouldn't fill all three seatings in Birmingham, but I don't think we ever had one that was less than about 70 percent full, with all three together. I always was impressed about how well the bands performed when they were live, even though the Coliseum acoustics werent so good.. "Probably the most famous and beloved would be Buckingham Nicks at Boutwell in January of 1975. Peter (Asher) and Gordon (Waller), Big BAM Show. Bottom (l-r), Ronnie Monroe, Bobby Dupree and Rusty Crumpton. 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. . We had a fabulous time.. It was just the coolest thing.". It was elbow to elbow in there, remembered drummer Tommy Beavers. Most of the clubs have gone to a single performer, or a duo or karaoke. A real commercial from the 60's with announcer Bill J Moody .Exciting times as a teen.growing up in Montgomery. He remembers the Kove days with Harvest/Harmony fondly, not only for the bands music but the people who came to see them. As a result, Captain and Tennille declined ABC's offer to do a second season. Tickets were priced at$1.50-$5.50 per show, Brennan says, and artists' fees usually ran about $300-$7,500 per act. The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC Brennan, now 86, introduced the Beatles at the Gator Bowlin Jacksonville, Fla., when the Fab Four played there on Sept. 11, 1964. It feels good. "(Listeners) would tell us what they liked and didn't like. She came back a few minutes later and absolutely blasted a massive bongo solo. The entire show was magic, beginning with The Stranger and of course included many of the unknown Joel early songs. K Jamie Carter Childhood Toys Childhood Memories Camille Redouble Sheila E Anybody remember that one? 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. We stayed at the same hotel as them. "It cost enough that we were lucky to come out with just enough and break even with it," Brennan says. With no sound checks between acts, group would run on stage and begin playing almost immediately. 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. 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. They enjoy reminiscing about the stars, the shows and the fans who made it possible. Patsy Cline. Saw them at the University of Alabama home coming in 1978 as well. He even did about 30 seconds of Sweet Home Alabama (that was before that song was worn out). Jerry Lee Lewis. 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 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. Both concerts were sold out. The Show That Almost Happened 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. One of its earliest Big BAM Shows featured Elvis Presley as he ascended to fame, on the same bill with Roy Acuff. "They would be paying the acts, literally, in cash. Because it was so big, we ran on stage as soon as we were introduced, grabbed our instruments and started playing before the applause died down. 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. "I didn't stay up there too long," Brennan says, laughing. I've got to change clothes and everything.' The last Big BAM show was headlined by B.J. Brennan also remembers that Starr requested reinforcements to the stage area near his drum kit, because strong gusts lingered after the hurricane. Props. I said, 'Cyril, what do you think we ought to do?' former wcti reporters; winter village montreal; western new england university greek life; 1980 camaro z28 for sale in canada. "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. Then another. ", From bamamaam: "What about the lynyrd skynyrd concert at rickwood field in the '70's.? Go to the Archives I always got seats on the floor for the shows. In spirited retaliation, Paul Revere and the Raiders march in lock step across the stage behind performers Jan and Dean. 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. 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. The only multiple-act show in the country similar to what the Brennans offered were those produced by Dick Clark. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. You are free to use the above map for educational and similar purposes; if you publish it online or in print . ", Jerry Tavin/Photo courtesy of Everett Collection, From mcarter3: "Uhh. Where's Jimi Hendrix's concert at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1969? ", "Leo Kottke, Foster Auditorium, UA campus, about 1974," said 57939names. Joplin died on Oct. 4, 1970. Wed have them in the spring, summer, fall and winter, said Dan Brennan, known on-air as Dan the Music Man hosting Dans Dusty Discs, who also announced acts on-stage. 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. Her very own father was on stage, standing closeto four of the most famous musicians in the world. They had easy backstage access, as well, and would confidently sashay throughout the venue. J. Frank Wilson, and The Webs. 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! Via a longstanding partnership with the Benns family, the Brennans also extended theirreach to Chattanooga, the home of WFLI-AM. ", From dassani: "I was there Could not have been better! Still, for radio listeners who tuned into WVOK back in the day, Brennan will always be Dan the Music Man. It was great! "I remember the Rolling Stones came up to me, and they said, 'You don't really expect us to get into the same RV that the Beach Boys are in, do you?' ", From Shapeshiftinhmojo: "Jimi Hendrix played Alabama twice in both Tuscaloosa and Auburn in 1968 or 69. Make Favorite Store Contact 1957 Cobbs Ford Rd. I had to play the whole set standing up!. For an 18-year-old to take home a pillowsack full of dollars, that was quite a heady time.. ", 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.
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