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. "Bill" Brennan, one of the owners of The Big Bam, Montgomery's renowned 50,000-watt radio station. We'll have to ask him. 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. The Animals. The Huntsville Times file photo/Michael Proffitt. "Probably the most famous and beloved would be Buckingham Nicks at Boutwell in January of 1975. And if we hadn't had (Hurricane Dora), we would have made a lot of money. They didn't come to hear me; they came to hear the Rolling Stones.'". From what we can tell, she appeared there in 1970, but the story mentions Dec. 3, 1970, as the date of her show. When Peter Noone left Hermans Hermits in 1971, Hermits drummer Barry Whitwam keep going, and today continues to lead his own Hermans Hermits band (as does Noone performing as Hermans Hermits starring Peter Noone). ", 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. Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park 52 Theaters Parks By Meowy 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. Dan Brennan recalls the reaction from performers. As Brennan recalls it, the Beach Boys were paid $7,500 for their performance, and the Rolling Stones received $5,000. 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. For an 18-year-old to take home a pillowsack full of dollars, that was quite a heady time.. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that is rarely revealed within the pages of history texts. We'd be there from the crack of dawn until midnight. In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero f. Home; My Books; Browse . $14 million dollar house maine; The chips were glued into Dianes scrap book between photos of the Beatles. "Play It All Night Long." 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. WVOK Shower of Stars | Flickr The original investors in the company were William J. Disbanded in 66, reunited 76, returned to active performance 1991. According to Ben Flanagan's story for AL.com, the band also played in Tuscaloosa at Memorial Coliseum, now Coleman Coliseum. 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 (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). 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. The Young Rascals. Date:Sun, 5 Jun 2005 09:12:45 -0400 I'll tell you a story about that WBAM show in Montgomery. "It didn't matter. Its better than not being remembered at all.. Western European Countries, Italian Restaurants In Sandy Springs, Contemporary Music For All Coma, Ford Bronco Reservation Login, Panoplie Dragoeuf Dofus Touch, River Radio Station, Nice In Korean, How Did Tamerlan Tsarnaev Die, Den Of Behemoths Boss, Its effortless., Even after all these years, agreed Jones. Springsteen played the 'short end' of the the Beard-Eaves with the curtain up. Whitwam, now in his 47th year playing music, is pleased with the makeup of their current audiences. "You didn't have to know anything about guitar to realize that he was one of the best ever to take the stage. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. Jerry Lee Lewis, the Brennans said. shimano ep8 630wh battery range 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. The Fabulous Shades, 1965. ", From Cobb: "Buckingham Nicks in Morgan Auditorium Tuscaloosa Alabama Fall 1973.". 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. blues show montgomery, al 2021 | Future Property Exhibiitons 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 a promotional thing for us. 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). That one was epic alright, unlike any other! 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. Find the answers to any question. Flintstone House. (In 1965, Legion Field could seat more than 68,000 people.) THE 5 BEST Upcoming Concerts & Shows in Montgomery - Tripadvisor 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. 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. It was just the coolest thing.". Reactions to these picks -- made by entertainment reporters Matt Wake, Lawrence Specker and Mary Colurso -- ranged from praise to anger, support to dismay. I said, 'Well, this is Roy's show. Ticket prices were never more expensive than $4.00. Brother Cyril Brennan, 84, was alternately chief engineer, manager, program director and music director at WBAM and also involved in lining up talent. Herman's Hermits in the studio, Barry Whitwam on drums. Can you believe it? From Denniswingo: "Was there! Chuck Berry was an intro-act, great show he put on. This might have swelled a lesser man's head, but for Brennan, it was all about connecting with the listeners. The eruption from the crowd was louder than expected but the lights were so blinding, we could not see the audience. 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. Montgomery, Alabama, United States: Apr 15, 2016 keith sweat / Juvenile / Morris Day & The Time / Cherelle: . Go to the Archives ", The Birmingham News file photo/Philip Barr. "Best concert I caught in this state was at Memorial Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1978 Lowell George and Little Feat. Garrett Coliseum Montgomery Concert Setlists City Montgomery, AL, United States Add Montgomery venue Address 1555 Federal Drive Montgomery, AL 36107 USA Opened 1963 Web Official Website Garrett Coliseum on Wikipedia Info Located at he Alabama Agricultural Center. I don't know, I guess people got to trust us. We were the opening act and it was the biggest crowd we had ever played before, nearly 30,000 people. One show in particular stands out. Tommy James Interview: Singer Discusses His Autobiography 'Me, the Mob Thats not to say Montgomery area favorite bands cant be seen any more. Inicio Quines somos? It was just before his popularity exploded. 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. ", From Eric Pendergrass: "Grateful Dead BJCC April 4,5 1995.". Think it was 1977," says Craigmo. Make Favorite Store Contact 1957 Cobbs Ford Rd. WMSP - Wikiwand Jerry Lee Lewis. Big Lots Prattville: Furniture, mattress & home product store in WMSP - Wikipedia Birmingham on May 20, 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 Hollies. Big Bam Show Montgomery, Al 1960s F.U.N. | Views, Montgomery, Pandora 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." WMSP (740 AM, Sports Radio 740) is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, USA. Formed: 1966, Tallassee. The entire show was magic, beginning with The Stranger and of course included many of the unknown Joel early songs. big bam shows montgomery, alabama. For Alabama radio pioneer, life was a Shower of Stars From Billy Bromberg: "Led Zeppelin 1973, Coleman Coliseum." Jerry Lee Lewis hristie Lou C. Paul Revere & the Raiders . ", "Leo Kottke, Foster Auditorium, UA campus, about 1974," said 57939names. Renamed Rock Hull Band in 77 before reclaiming original name in 90. 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. 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. . "It was quite a thing.". Shop Patio & Garden, including exclusive patio furniture from brands like Broyhill. You are free to use the above map for educational and similar purposes; if you publish it online or in print . My personal favorite concert of all times was Billy Joel at the BJCC Concert Hall. Louise Brennan, Cyril's wife, at the Beatles' press conference in Jacksonville. The Other Side of Montgomery - Google Books I never chased the stars around to hotels or anything. "Times have changed so," said a wistful Peek, the Shower of Stars devotee. This was the last concert they did before going back to LA and joining the band Fleetwood Mac. 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 never collectedconcertposters, handbills orother pieces of memorabilia. Thousands of Beatles fans were ready to twist and shout in the Southeast, and the Brennan clan had made it happen. 'I did it my way.'". Other notable former personalities included Bill J. Moody, Paul Simpkins, Mark Robbins, Gene Hocutt and Joe Cook. How Sonny and Cher Went From TV's Power Couple to Bitter Exes - Biography the tall man aboriginal spirit; metadata api request failed: component conversion failed: file_ended; caleb foote sandlot The Big BAM Shows. 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. big bam shows montgomery, alabama - mmischools.com I was there both times. 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. The band's management initially asked for 85 percent of the ticket proceeds or $25,000, whichever was greater, Brennan says. People would come night after night, said Lander, who owns Bama Lanes in Montgomery and Prattville. Tickets cost $3 apiece. 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. The mothership landed in the BJCC that night. "Cyril's idea was, 'Tell them to sing, just a little bit, and make sure that we get the right one.' Shop Now Now sales manager for a Dothan radio station, Moody fondly remembers working as a teenager at a 1959 WBAM concert featuring singer Connie Francis. From:"Rodney Justo" To:"robert register" Subject:Re: HEY EL NIXO! 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. He and his wife live north of Prattville in a 1930s shack, have three grown children and are expecting their first grandchild. 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. Ticket prices were never more expensive than $4.00. Mountain 1971," said Billy Bromberg. Big Bam Show - Newspapers.com 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.". The Fab Four wouldnt play to segregated audiences, and at that time this was the case in Alabama. Some of the concerts took place in a single location -- most often, Jacksonville. Competition was evident between the two bands, Brennan says, as the Beach Boys returned for their splashiest date at the Shower of Stars, and the Stones made theirBirmingham debut on their first U.S. tour. Our four-piece horn section sets us apart, said Key. Alicia McLeod - Vocals. Tommy James & Ed Sullivan. Canned Heat. "Me and my girlfriends would get up at -- holy moly, 6 a.m. -- and get there long before the show ever started," said Connie Peek, a former Shower of Stars regular, during a 2003 interview with The Birmingham News. Deep South was incorporated in late July of 1950 with a capitalization of $60,000. Bob Brennen gave me these. It was important to us.". Big Bam Show. The Brennan familysold itsstake in AM radio a few years later,and hemoved on to WRKK-FM, an album-rock station known as K-99. The Other Side of Montgomery : Growing Up White in the Birthplace of 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. The Beatles in Alabama? The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC. White guys playing soul music!, Most of the stuff we played was music you could easily dance to, said Dupree. Pin on The Old Record Case - pinterest.com 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. In 1964 the Brennans booked the Beatles for a concert in either Legion Field in Birmingham, or Garrett Coliseum or Crampton Bowl in Montgomery. Rare Earth. ', "We went over there and asked Roy, and he said, 'No, we're not going to do that. Cyril's wife Louise would make us outfits for the Shower of Stars, and we'd have on these big bell bottoms. Music of a Generation: Big BAM Shows | Prime Montgomery WVOK used Legion Field as a test case that spring, Brennan says, to see if the Shower of Stars could work at Birmingham's largest venue. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Uploaded 11 years ago Music 4; Photos 0; Interview . I kept going to at least one show a year through about 1968, he said. In Brennan's view, that's a satisfying legacy. The Four Seasons. J. Frank Wilson, and The Webs. So it was a deliberate attempt to identify with people, and to recognize that they were requesting these songs. It was everything. "We all felt very privileged," Bartoletti says. At least 25 people tried to jump the stage during the concert and were knocked backward into the crowd by gigantic stage bouncers! ", From Denniswingo: "The Grateful Dead in 1978 at the Boutwell Auditorium. Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis were on the bill, said Whitwam of their first performance at Garrett Coliseum. Neil Diamond. In the spring of 1968, we played the Big Bam Spring show in Montgomery and were seen by a producer from Hollywood named Bob Hinkle. We put on a heck of a show, said Grier. . One of the most powerful Shower of Stars events happened on May 7, 1965, when WVOK brought the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys to Legion Field. Read reviews from world's largest community for readers. He was lead singer of the Rockin Gibraltars, formed in 1965 by a group of students at Lee High School. Go to the Archives After helping escort her safely away from an unruly crowd, she rewarded him with a big kiss. Back then, thats what music was about, remembers Bobby Dupree, 63, drummer with The Rockin Gibraltars, a popular Montgomery-based group in the 60s. go to da moon copy and paste. The Show That Almost Happened 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. I've seen so many good shows in Birmingham over the years! ", From Art Meripol: "U2's Zoo Tour at Legion was pretty fun from the floor.". Ticket prices were $2 for shows in the early 1960s, gradually increasing to a top price of $5.50, a pittance by todays standards. Alabama State Coliseum (1951-1963) Garrett Coliseum (1963-) Oct 5 2019 Bama Country 98.9 - WBAM - Montgomery's Most Country Props. to see more entries, Posted on June 1, 2011 by bob in Features. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. They moved to LA, minus Grier whod gotten married and had a new baby and didnt want to move. We played a lot of soul music, the Beatles, the Stones, he said. blues show montgomery, al 2021. guildford school of acting auditions; gilroy google font alternative; cuisinart steamer insert; Blog Post Title February 26, 2018. ", From estevev: "Of the ones I attended, the most memorable ones were -- Ike and Tina Turner Review, Plush Horse, (1974? "Marty Robbins came up to me, and he looked so sad," Brennan recalls. He plays locally at Ruddles, Coaches Corner in Wetumpka, Young Barn Oyster Pub, and has recorded a CD. They agreed to do it, but they were on one end of it, and the Beach Boys were on the other end of it. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. "The level of excitement was unbelievable," Bartoletti says. By the summer of 1975 hed joined singer and keyboardist Eddie Wohlford and drummer Tommy Beavers to become part of Harvest, the precursor to the group Harmony at the Kove that spawned two major talents who made it big nationally: Tommy Shaw and Beth Nielsen Chapman. Keith Richards was almost electrocuted when his guitar grounded on a mic. Can you say Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?". "Eight Days a Week -- The Touring Years. We played all the way through college, says Long. Here's what was in the 1969 Montgomery time capsule Customer Help Desk big bam shows montgomery, alabamasmart search field in safari. 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! 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. George Cumuze, RN, Case Manager 4150 Carmichael Court Montgomery, AL 36106 334-270-2274. show . Sonny Grier is another longtime Montgomery band member who still plays music. WMSP - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia More on the Grateful Dead's 1995 shows in Birmingham, from AL.com's "Lost Stories" series. We rode up the . 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. 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 Who. Dan Brennan at the mic introducing the Beatles at their Gator Bowl appearance in Jacksonville, Florida. Thomas, joined by John Kay (solo after leaving Steppenwolf), the Grass Roots and others. Herman's Hermits. 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. MEMORABLE SLOGANS | Page 2 | RadioDiscussions The Untold Story of the Beatles' Desegregation Rider "And that made a big difference, because people didn't have the opportunity to turn on the TV set and see these artists, after they'd been buying their records. The Other Side of Montgomery: Growing Up White in the Birthplace of the 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. ", Jerry Tavin/Photo courtesy of Everett Collection, From mcarter3: "Uhh. Where's Jimi Hendrix's concert at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1969? The song actually topped the charts on WBAM in Montgomery, AL for a few weeks which gave us introductions to the British Invasion groups coming through Montgomery for the Big BAM shows held at the Coliseum for many years, like The Who, The Hollies, The Blues Magoos, The Kinks, and many more including American groups like The Beach Boys, The . Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning to sports talk under the WMSP callsign in 1995. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. So they both sang a few bars of the song, 'You're the Reason I'm Living," and we still couldn't decide which one was the real one. zhonb.zulukazahn.best We made $100, remembers Grier. It would be tough going back to ballrooms and small clubs after this. 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 . I said, 'Elvis, I'm sorry, but we can't accommodate you, because it is his show.' In 2020, the median property value in Montgomery, AL was $121,100, and the homeownership rate was 54.1%. The Troggs. I always got seats on the floor for the shows. Their annual Big Bam shows, and Show of Stars were traveling medicine shows and featured Lou Christie, Roy Orbison, The Animals. I was very happy with doing the work I did. While Gator Bowl officials relented to a desegregated audience for the concert, two other venues Epstein had chosen were problematic. WBAM-FM - History - Former Programming and Personalities
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