big bam shows montgomery, alabama big bam shows montgomery, alabama

That one was epic alright, unlike any other! The band has undergone several incarnations. Shop Patio & Garden, including exclusive patio furniture from brands like Broyhill. The Beach Boys. Music lovers would line up at each venue, some arriving hours in advance, then rush inside to secure their favorite general-admission seats. ", 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." That was one of my first big gigs - the Big BAM shows! But Lewis went over his allotted time. They responded, swiftly and passionately, to a recent post listing 31 of the greatest shows at venues throughout the state. . Beth Nielsen joined the group after Shaw left. The other name band on the show was the Allman Brothers, they had just released their first album. Birmingham on May 20, 1967. The Rogues of Montgomery, AL cut one great rock single, "Put You Down" b/w a version of "Stormy Monday Blues". "Cyril's idea was, 'Tell them to sing, just a little bit, and make sure that we get the right one.' Pitiful (Otis Redding) sound so much better with real horns.. HOW COME PAUL GODDARD PUSHES HIS GLASSES UP THE BRIDGE OF HIS NOSE? In 1964 the Brennans booked the Beatles for a concert in either Legion Field in Birmingham, or Garrett Coliseum or Crampton Bowl in Montgomery. For fans, half the fun was trying for a glimpse of the stars at their hotel or coming to and from the coliseum. 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. Instant Help Questions? "My brother, he was always a little bit of a gambler," Brennan says. Anybody remember that one? I said, 'Cyril, what do you think we ought to do?' Search the Largest Online Newspaper Archive. The band also played Birmingham in May 1977, according to this story by Madison Underwood. Date:Sun, 5 Jun 2005 09:12:45 -0400 I'll tell you a story about that WBAM show in Montgomery. The Rogues recorded the 45 in February of 1966, for MBM Records, a Birmingham, Alabama label that goes back to the early '60s. 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 Jimbo Jones (L) and Tommy Beavers look forward to the reunion of Harmony. Go to the Archives ", "This is so subjective and there are way too many to pick from. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. He pulls this at every one of our shows. We rode up the . From Sell it to the tourists: "I saw an amazing Harry Chapin show at the BJCC Concert Hall in around 1978? It was everything. At least 25 people tried to jump the stage during the concert and were knocked backward into the crowd by gigantic stage bouncers! But the moment was indelible for one of his daughters, Debbie Brennan Bartoletti. "Times have changed so," said a wistful Peek, the Shower of Stars devotee. The station's studios are . ", "I don't know if it has been mentioned yet, but for the Alabama Theater I would definitely include Warren Zevon's show in, what?.1986 or '87?, said earman1. If you have one, it's going to be way down the other part of the field.' The audience was huge, sold out, 10,000 or more. He was a very special guy. In Brennan's view, that's a satisfying legacy. Bobby Darin. Clapton! REENADED . He was lead singer of the Rockin Gibraltars, formed in 1965 by a group of students at Lee High School. More on the Grateful Dead's 1995 shows in Birmingham, from AL.com's "Lost Stories" series. I never chased the stars around to hotels or anything. After helping escort her safely away from an unruly crowd, she rewarded him with a big kiss. We played a lot of soul music, the Beatles, the Stones, he said. The Carpenters. Otherwise . Dan Brennan at the mic introducing the Beatles at their Gator Bowl appearance in Jacksonville, Florida. Our four-piece horn section sets us apart, said Key. Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park 52 Theaters Parks By Meowy It was just the coolest thing.". The Rolling Stones. The Animals. 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.". "Play It All Night Long." Louise Brennan, Cyril's wife, at the Beatles' press conference in Jacksonville. Thousands of Beatles fans were ready to twist and shout in the Southeast, and the Brennan clan had made it happen. 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. Show Duplicate for Mar 22, 2013: Mar 08, 2013 Justin Moore: Garrett Coliseum: "We gave everybody who came a free rain parka. Some of the concerts took place in a single location -- most often, Jacksonville. Alicia McLeod - Vocals. big bam shows montgomery, alabamasmart search field in safari. Skyping with a Hermit It was a real happening thing.. Which concerts will go down in history at Alabama music venues? Johnny Cash. You can either do that, or you will not have a place to change. I can sing as good or better now than I did then, said Grier. Disbanded in 66, reunited 76, returned to active performance 1991. 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. Notable TV and Radio personality Jimmy Carter (from Montgomery, Alabama) has assembled a few videos featuring some photos, jingles, and air checks of WBAM in its heyday. The Alabama band was the organizer and centerpiece, raising money for charity. The show is a spin-off from MTV 's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast appeared. In 1964 the Brennans Jacksonville, Florida station, WAPE, hosted the Beatles in concert at the Gator Bowl (see sidebar below). Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. And if we hadn't had (Hurricane Dora), we would have made a lot of money. . In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero f. Home; My Books; Browse . The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Its effortless., Even after all these years, agreed Jones. All who attended the big September 19th show must present ticket stub at gate between 12 noon and 1PM. to see more entries, Posted on November 1, 2011 by bob in Features. 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). Despite her young age -- she was 7 that year -- Bartoletti felt another emotion at the Gator Bowl: extreme pride. ", From rtrmark: "Alice Cooper. Keith Richards was almost electrocuted when his guitar grounded on a mic. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The Fabulous Shades, 1965. "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?' Elton John played three different years and drew over 40,000 total. I said, 'Elvis, I'm sorry, but we can't accommodate you, because it is his show.' This might have swelled a lesser man's head, but for Brennan, it was all about connecting with the listeners. We were the opening act and it was the biggest crowd we had ever played before, nearly 30,000 people. 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. "That was before he became very big. It feels good. 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 this point, Mick Jagger and his pals were poised to release"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," their first international smash. the tall man aboriginal spirit; metadata api request failed: component conversion failed: file_ended; caleb foote sandlot But from the . Both concerts were sold out. The venue? He would tear up the piano, Moody said, We couldnt find anyone to provide a piano, but he would put on a show. 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. Bobby Dupree (L) and Sonny Grier of the Rockin' Gibraltars. said donnna. I always was impressed about how well the bands performed when they were live, even though the Coliseum acoustics werent so good.. 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. The last concert at Big Bam Fall Spectacular was on September 30, 1966. Blue arcs of electricity knocked him unconscious and the show ended 15 minutes early. From:"Rodney Justo" To:"robert register" Subject:Re: HEY EL NIXO! He kicked it off with (what else?) 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). by Lenore Reese Vickrey: photos by the Brennan Family, Lenore Vickrey, As the arena began to fill up, you could hear the noise of the crowd from backstage. (It was free.) When I got on stage the drum kit seat was way too high. It was a clear channel station that covered over 90 counties in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, and could be heard everywhere. "They would be paying the acts, literally, in cash. 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. Neither Tommy Shaw nor Beth Nielsen Chapman will be on hand due to their schedules. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The bands would come in cars -- just plain old cars -- and they'd get their guitars out and walk past you. Classics such as Midnight Hour, (Wilson Pickett), Knock on Wood (Eddie Floyd), and Mr. Flintstone House. Think it was 1977," says Craigmo. With an amazing backing band, he proceeded to entertain the entire evening. Elvis Presley. Nothing else necessary. No mention does anyone else remember that?". It was electric. Dupree served with the Army in Vietnam, worked as an engineer in Muscle Shoals, and has been an electrical engineer for the Alabama Legislature for 27 years. We'd get hamburgers and bring them back, with someone always holding our place. Studio Phone Number: (334) 244-9898. Business Office/Studios 4101-A Wall Street Montgomery, AL 36106. "One of my favorites was RUSH 1981 Mobile Municipal Auditorium," said tgfmiss. When Cher and Sonny first met in 1963, she was 16, while he was 27 and married (he and his first wife were separated). Formed: 1963, Troy. We enjoyed all the years we spent in radio, said Dan Brennan, who now owns a video production company in Birmingham. WBAM Big Bam Shows; Dan's Dusty Discs WBAM; WBAM Pictures; Read more about this topic: WBAM-FM, History. go to da moon copy and paste. "We all felt very privileged," Bartoletti says. With no sound checks between acts, group would run on stage and begin playing almost immediately. He wants to go on late in the show.' Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Uploaded 11 years ago Music 4; Photos 0; Interview . He said, 'We're going to put both of them on.' Go to the Archives Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys were the headliners that evening, and the billincluded Kitty Wells, Johnnie and Jack, Fred Wamble, Jack Turner and Buddy Hawk. As Brennan recalls it, the Beach Boys were paid $7,500 for their performance, and the Rolling Stones received $5,000. "The level of excitement was unbelievable," Bartoletti says. Big Bam Fall Spectacular has had 1 concert. The Fab Four wouldnt play to segregated audiences, and at that time this was the case in Alabama. Brennan also remembers that Starr requested reinforcements to the stage area near his drum kit, because strong gusts lingered after the hurricane. Whitwam, now in his 47th year playing music, is pleased with the makeup of their current audiences. 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. As a result, Captain and Tennille declined ABC's offer to do a second season. "There was a police line for the Beatles to run through, and the stage was built up so people couldn't get to them.". I tasted my first grits there my very first grit (laughs). "It was rewarding, because people seemed to respond to some of the things I was doing. Keyboardist Mark Marvin will fill in for Eddie Wohlford who is unable to attend. "Bill" Brennan, one of the owners of The Big Bam, Montgomery's renowned 50,000-watt radio station. 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.. Then another. By the time they came to get us we were pretty shozzeled.. 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. He recalls the popular hangouts for older teens and the legendary "Big Bam Shows" of the period. They actually were already signed to join, when Peace Concerts booked the January 31, 1975 show. 3. fireworks at the end while playing freebird.??? From Brian Willis: "Any of Alabama's June Jams. We had a fabulous time.. And the Shower of Stars concerts still linger in localmemory. Mountain 1971," said Billy Bromberg. 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. [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. Grier continued to sing with trios and orchestras, performing at wedding receptions and private parties. George Harrison is behind Dan on the left, John Lennon on the right. 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. There are still a lot of local bands out there, said Sonny Grier, lead singer with the Rockin Gibraltars. 6 places sorted by traveler favorites Clear all filters 1. I was blown away. Many regulars from the Kove days brought their grown children and will likely do so again. Yet. Her very own father was on stage, standing closeto four of the most famous musicians in the world. 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." The eruption from the crowd was louder than expected but the lights were so blinding, we could not see the audience. JLL put on a hell of a show also. They had easy backstage access, as well, and would confidently sashay throughout the venue. Garrett Coliseum, in contrast, could hold 10,000+ for a single performance in Montgomery. FACIAL. Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning to sports talk under the WMSP callsign in 1995. "Ringo said, 'I'm not getting up there unless you build me a bannister around this thing.' Other notable former personalities included Bill J. Moody, Paul Simpkins, Mark Robbins, Gene Hocutt and Joe Cook. "It didn't matter. WVOK is now all-sports. BOBBY GOLDSBORO. But in the minds of Alabama listeners, WVOK and WBAM ruled supreme, and the stations were closely linked by their concert series. They agreed to do it, but they were on one end of it, and the Beach Boys were on the other end of it. The Huntsville Times file photo/Michael Proffitt. So many great City Stages performances: Chuck Berry (backed my some of Birmingham's finest), James Brown, Johnny Cash (right after Randy Newman! Can you say Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?". Many of the artists told me these were the biggest shows theyd ever done.. Top (l-r), Keith Brewer, Ed Sanford and Sonny Grier. One of the Beach Boys told me it was the biggest talent show hed ever been in!. And they accepted it, but we did get the total amount of the gate that came in. Were a dance band.. ", 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. ", From bhamboost: "Parliament Funkadelic Mothership Connection 1976. 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. "I'm so old. Iron Butterfly. The entire show was magic, beginning with The Stranger and of course included many of the unknown Joel early songs. I said, 'Well, you've got a choice here. Deep South was incorporated in late July of 1950 with a capitalization of $60,000. Lindley. ", 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. I have such fond memories of coming to Alabama. Toni loved doing the show, but Daryl, who never enjoyed being on camera, did not. (The station's nickname, "the Mighty 690," referred to its spot on the AM dial.). I had to play the whole set standing up!. WBAM Big Bam Shows 7,142 views Nov 21, 2010 One of the big hit singers of the 60's and 70's working on a bit with me for a TV show..a little behind the scenes..Bobby is involved with art. "People were going crazy, and you couldn't hear anything because the girls were screaming so loud," Bartoletti says. 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. Lowell George in his prime," says Bingothatwuzagoody. The last Big BAM show was headlined by B.J. Members: Original members Larry Hoyle, Johnny Hassett and Ron Howard, plus Chris Seymour, Johnny Long, Jr. and Craig Young. People would come night after night, said Lander, who owns Bama Lanes in Montgomery and Prattville. They enjoy reminiscing about the stars, the shows and the fans who made it possible. 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. Can you believe it? $14 million dollar house maine; The only multiple-act show in the country similar to what the Brennans offered were those produced by Dick Clark. 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. 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. ", From Art Meripol: "U2's Zoo Tour at Legion was pretty fun from the floor.". 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. Respi Mee Sup Sabahiiat. Inicio Quines somos? Herman's Hermits in the studio, Barry Whitwam on drums. "We had to import parkas, raincoats from Taiwan, so that was our rain insurance," Brennan says, laughing. 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. December 24, 1958: Jerry Lee Lewis ; December 12, 1959: Fabian, The Fleetwoods, The Browns, Floyd Robinson and Bobby Lee Trammell Shop Now blues show montgomery, al 2021. guildford school of acting auditions; gilroy google font alternative; cuisinart steamer insert; Blog Post Title February 26, 2018. Id never seen anybody get an audience so excited, Dan Brennan remembered. "Eight Days a Week -- The Touring Years. Both stations played Top 40 hits of the day, and the concerts were the Brennans gifts to a loyal radio audience. 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. (L-R) Bob Corley, David Headley, Cary Green, Jeffery Johnson, Bob Pike, John Key. The Byrds. Back then, thats what music was about, remembers Bobby Dupree, 63, drummer with The Rockin Gibraltars, a popular Montgomery-based group in the 60s. 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. 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. Fees for the other acts were in the $300-$400 range, he says. "What's that Frank Sinatra song? 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. But theres not a whole lot of money because theres no place for them to play. Bottom (l-r), Ronnie Monroe, Bobby Dupree and Rusty Crumpton. The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC "We never had a flop," Brennan says, "but we had some shows that were a little bit bigger than others. Vocalist in Salem, Alabama 1,320 views on fandalism. From 1963 to 73 the Big BAM shows and their counterpart in Birmingham, the Shower of Stars shows, presented four concerts a year. ", Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. He also helped to choose and line up some of the concert talent. If it's all right with him, it's all right with me. Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning Best Review Site for Digital Cameras. He even did about 30 seconds of Sweet Home Alabama (that was before that song was worn out). Each episode had a specific theme, mission, or challenge which was accomplished by performing pranks, skateboarding, and enlisting the help of . Members: Mitch Alton (original member), Gregg Pappas, Ham Wilson, Bill Marshall , Dwight Williams, Rick Byrd, Orville Cain, Carl Tesh. Hisconcertseries rocked their worlds and shaped their music tastes, in tandem with WVOK. The Big Bam shows in Montgomery were on my list," said Jack Boles. The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC. In one fell swoop, he was in hot demand. Brennanleft the radio business for good in 1982. "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. 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 early concert didn't begin until it was time for the second one, but it was worth the wait. He plays locally at Ruddles, Coaches Corner in Wetumpka, Young Barn Oyster Pub, and has recorded a CD. Yes, the Beatles' performance was "a really big show," as Ed Sullivan wouldhave said. Wed ask them, Who would you like to see? Then wed select artists for the shows from this listener input.. There was always so much excitement surrounding the shows, Knapp said. The Brennans often picked up and drove band members to and from the airport and hotels, quite a thrill for Diane Brennan Knapp and Donnie Kay Brennan, daughters of Cyril Brennan and teenagers at the time. Famous quotes containing the words historical and/or videos: That's how we put together our shows. Dylan with Brian Setzer Orchestra opening (about 1998 ?). 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. By 1972 the heyday of the big shows had passed. "There was a little office backstage, and I remember seeing my father and uncles back there with a security guard," Bartoletti says. Things changed a little bit after that. Brennan, who understands the pull of nostalgia, says he's heard similar sentiments from many Birmingham folkswho came of age at the Shower of Stars. Alabama State Coliseum (1951-1963) Garrett Coliseum (1963-) Oct 5 2019 If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.