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. Its better than not being remembered at all.. "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. When Cher and Sonny first met in 1963, she was 16, while he was 27 and married (he and his first wife were separated). (The station's nickname, "the Mighty 690," referred to its spot on the AM dial.). The Rockin' Gibraltars, Montgomery, 1960s. 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. 100 feet later someone offered us tickets at face value. The Other Side of Montgomery : Growing Up White in the Birthplace of I never chased the stars around to hotels or anything. 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 [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. WMSP (740 AM, "Sports Radio 740") is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, USA.The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC. ", 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." zhonb.zulukazahn.best Dylan with Brian Setzer Orchestra opening (about 1998 ?). Dan Brennan at the mic introducing the Beatles at their Gator Bowl appearance in Jacksonville, Florida. One of its earliest Big BAM Shows featured Elvis Presley as he ascended to fame, on the same bill with Roy Acuff. 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. 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. 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. "One of my favorites was RUSH 1981 Mobile Municipal Auditorium," said tgfmiss. But Lewis went over his allotted time. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. By the time they came to get us we were pretty shozzeled.. I always was impressed about how well the bands performed when they were live, even though the Coliseum acoustics werent so good.. "Eight Days a Week -- The Touring Years. The station's studios are . From Billy Bromberg: "Led Zeppelin 1973, Coleman Coliseum." The early concert didn't begin until it was time for the second one, but it was worth the wait. 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. fireworks at the end while playing freebird.??? ", All three Brennan brothers were ambitious businessmen who worked as a team. 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). 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. "The level of excitement was unbelievable," Bartoletti says. Butspeaking in general terms, each also hada specialty: Bill the visionaryentrepreneur, Cyril the tech-mindedpioneer, Dan the key concert producer and a smooth, recognizable voice at WVOK. The last concert at Big Bam Fall Spectacular was on September 30, 1966. big bam shows montgomery, alabama I said, 'Cyril, what do you think we ought to do?' His current band, The Soul Crackas, does many of the same soul hits the Rockin Gibraltar performed. Go to the Archives They had the Stones in about 1963-64, with Brian Jones before he died. Formed: 1966, Tallassee. The Beach Boys. 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. Find the answers to any question. The Grass Roots. Local Rock 'n Roll 60s & 70s Style | Prime Montgomery From Sell it to the tourists: "I saw an amazing Harry Chapin show at the BJCC Concert Hall in around 1978? In spirited retaliation, Paul Revere and the Raiders march in lock step across the stage behind performers Jan and Dean. "Radio played the song every twenty minutes. There was a little jealousy there.". People came from several states to see these shows. "We had a room set up at our house that had little cubbyholes, like a post office has, and Clara would be back there, stuffing these envelopes, and getting the tickets," Brennan says. 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 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. Dan Brennan, center, with the Grass Roots. The Captain and Tennille Show became a network hit and featured guest stars such as John Travolta, Don Knotts, The Pointer Sisters, and Red Foxx. I had to play the whole set standing up!. So it was a deliberate attempt to identify with people, and to recognize that they were requesting these songs. Jerry Lee Lewis. This was the last concert they did before going back to LA and joining the band Fleetwood Mac. Tickets cost $3 apiece. We played all the way through college, says Long. Blue arcs of electricity knocked him unconscious and the show ended 15 minutes early. "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?' 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. Big Bam All-Star Spring Show Setlists | setlist.fm nellson nutraceutical revenue; arlington catholic basketball roster; jack cawood and suzy hunt; lawn vacuum for acorns rental. A license for the station was issued in 1952. It was the most important thing in our lives. 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. White guys playing soul music!, Most of the stuff we played was music you could easily dance to, said Dupree. Deep South Broadcasting was the licensee of WBAM-AM, 740 kc with 50,000 watts daytime in Montgomery. ", Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. By March 15, 2021 No Comments. (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). "Marty Robbins came up to me, and he looked so sad," Brennan recalls. We didnt play where people sat around and drank. ", 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 Big BAM was WBAM, the 50,000-watt AM radio station owned by the Brennan family, whose other Alabama station was Birmingham's WVOK. Bobby Darin. 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 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. Herman's Hermits. Instant Help Questions? Only concert I have ever been to where they had tee shirts for the guitarist in the band along with the band's shirts. "You didn't have to know anything about guitar to realize that he was one of the best ever to take the stage. JLL put on a hell of a show also. And if we hadn't had (Hurricane Dora), we would have made a lot of money. Louise Brennan, Cyril's wife, at the Beatles' press conference in Jacksonville. I told someone to lower the seat, and when I sat down, it went all the way to the bottom, he said, chuckling. 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. "Put You Down" was written by lead guitarist Max Kendrick and vocalist Rich Gainer. It's not like now, where they have secret tunnels and drive right into the auditorium.". DMX. 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 station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC "Little Feat at Boutwell mid 70s. ", "This is so subjective and there are way too many to pick from. We played a lot of soul music, the Beatles, the Stones, he said. ", From Eric Pendergrass: "Grateful Dead BJCC April 4,5 1995.". Most recently they performed earlier this year for a benefit show for ailing former bandmate Keith Brewer, who died in April of cancer. "Two guitars and a stool. Montgomery, Alabama, United States: Apr 15, 2016 keith sweat / Juvenile / Morris Day & The Time / Cherelle: . While Gator Bowl officials relented to a desegregated audience for the concert, two other venues Epstein had chosen were problematic. Big Bam Fall Spectacular has had 1 concert. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that is rarely revealed within the pages of history texts. Can you believe it? [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. They agreed to do it, but they were on one end of it, and the Beach Boys were on the other end of it. Or Nirvana at Boutwell in 1993?Or Roger McGuinn at Merrimack Hall in 2014? Skynnard (not really a fan) opening for Wet Willie - 1972-73(?). The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. And the Shower of Stars concerts still linger in localmemory. ", From dassani: "I was there Could not have been better! It would be tough going back to ballrooms and small clubs after this. 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. In 1964 the Brennans booked the Beatles for a concert in either Legion Field in Birmingham, or Garrett Coliseum or Crampton Bowl in Montgomery. 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. Though theyve had other jobs over the years, neither Jones nor Beavers have stopped playing music. Submit a request Contact us through a specially prepared form. ", Also on his list: "Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, and Jesse Colin Young and The Youngbloods, Legion Field, sometime in the 70's. Toni loved doing the show, but Daryl, who never enjoyed being on camera, did not. Thomas, joined by John Kay (solo after leaving Steppenwolf), the Grass Roots and others. From:"Rodney Justo" To:"robert register" Subject:Re: HEY EL NIXO! 0. blues show montgomery, al 2021. 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. And didn't ever explain to the people what had happened. MEMORABLE SLOGANS | Page 2 | RadioDiscussions I remember some of them telling us they came to every show that whole year.". "Cyril's idea was, 'Tell them to sing, just a little bit, and make sure that we get the right one.' 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 . One show in particular stands out. "We all felt very privileged," Bartoletti says. A story by Ben Flanagan of AL.com, looking back at concerts at the coliseum, also mentions Joplin. Show Duplicate for Mar 22, 2013: Mar 08, 2013 Justin Moore: Garrett Coliseum: From au92536: "June Jam in Fort Payne - I know it's country BUT. Garrett Coliseum, in contrast, could hold 10,000+ for a single performance in Montgomery. Their annual Big Bam shows, and Show of Stars were traveling medicine shows and featured Lou Christie, Roy Orbison, The Animals. J. Frank Wilson, and The Webs. They changed their name to Heart before eventually folding. The Rogues recorded the 45 in February of 1966, for MBM Records, a Birmingham, Alabama label that goes back to the early '60s. Wish I had gotten one. Formed: 1972, Tuscaloosa. recent post listing 31 of the greatest shows, according to this story by Madison Underwood, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. 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. The following year 13 acts played in WVOKs Shower of Stars show at Legion Field in Birmingham. We enjoyed all the years we spent in radio, said Dan Brennan, who now owns a video production company in Birmingham. The Quad show was FREE! 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. Peter (Asher) and Gordon (Waller), Big BAM Show. View the Full Page. FACIAL. 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. +40 (724) 307.599 Lu - Vi: 9:00 - 18:00; big bam shows montgomery, alabama Just a few of the letters WBAM received from fans providing input into the acts they wished to see at the shows. "It was cold outside, show was to begin at 6 but began at 9; coeds from T-town waited for 2nd show which was to begin at 9 but began at about 2 next morning, had to get permission to stay in those days and freeze outside at Auburn University Coliseum. There was always so much excitement surrounding the shows, Knapp said. 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. 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. Melissa Parker (Smashing Interviews Magazine): Tommy, I'm in Montgomery, Alabama. One of the best concerts ever for Blues in Birmingham. Anybody else remember seeing Joplin in Tuscaloosa? Cyril Brennan, who received a Top Program Director award from Billboard Magazine, is retired and lives in Pike Road. Their most popular singles were It Will Stand (also recorded by The Showmen) and Bug of Soul. The groups members drifted back to Alabama, with the exception of Townsend and Sanford who formed the Sanford-Townsend Band and recorded the hit Smoke from a Distant Fire.. the tall man aboriginal spirit; metadata api request failed: component conversion failed: file_ended; caleb foote sandlot Carl Perkins. "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've seen so many good shows in Birmingham over the years! Flintstone House. Some of the concerts took place in a single location -- most often, Jacksonville. "They would be paying the acts, literally, in cash. 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. The Huntsville Times file photo/Michael Proffitt. 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. Here, then, is a readers' choice list of 31 awesome concerts in Alabama, culled from email, Facebook and comments on the original post. Tommy James Interview: Singer Discusses His Autobiography 'Me, the Mob WBAM ~ Trax & Grooves - Blogger She remembers her father's words with startling clarity, along with the thrill she experiencedwhile sitting in the front row. Yes, the Beatles' performance was "a really big show," as Ed Sullivan wouldhave said. How Sonny and Cher Went From TV's Power Couple to Bitter Exes - Biography The station's transmitter is located in the town of Grady, Alabama. . Joni Mitchell at Tuscaloosa 1975 would be third," said jarobertson. You can either do that, or you will not have a place to change. Top (l-r), Keith Brewer, Ed Sanford and Sonny Grier. THE PROMOTIONAL POSTER OF THE WBAM, BIG BAM WINTER SPECTACULAR, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1967! Im content where Im at, said Beavers, except I could lose about 80 pounds.. Rinoplastia; Blefaroplastia Back then, thats what music was about, remembers Bobby Dupree, 63, drummer with The Rockin Gibraltars, a popular Montgomery-based group in the 60s. ", From TTownTony: "You cannot even imagine the concerts played in Tuscaloosa before the BJCC was built. "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. 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 . porsche cayman 987 bodykit; efficiencies for rent in riverview, fl. "We'd camp out at the door, on the steps and wait. 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. In Brennan's view, that's a satisfying legacy. He showed up about five minutes before his show was to go on. We were all so nervous we wore dark sunglasses so nobody could see how scared we were, said Dupree. Members: Mitch Alton (original member), Gregg Pappas, Ham Wilson, Bill Marshall , Dwight Williams, Rick Byrd, Orville Cain, Carl Tesh. 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. They didn't come to hear me; they came to hear the Rolling Stones.'". Rare Earth. ", "I'm also inclined to mention 1982 at Boutwell when the Blizzard of Ozz played; Randy Rhoades' third to last appearance before his tragic death," said GmanGent. He didn't insist onphotos. Cyril's wife Louise would make us outfits for the Shower of Stars, and we'd have on these big bell bottoms. ", 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. The Temptations and The Supremes, The TCB Tour, Auburn University, 1972. 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. "That was before he became very big. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. It made me feel good in a way, he said. Jerry Lee Lewis, the Brennans said. I missed a bunch more, though!". ", From bhamboost: "Parliament Funkadelic Mothership Connection 1976. The Other Side of Montgomery - Google Books "Fairgrounds Bham. It was great! K Jamie Carter Childhood Toys Childhood Memories Camille Redouble Sheila E blues show montgomery, al 2021. guildford school of acting auditions; gilroy google font alternative; cuisinart steamer insert; Blog Post Title February 26, 2018. Canned Heat. (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). WMSP - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia (The Beatles' popularity in the U.S. exploded in 1964, and that year's tour was a watershed moment for the band.). Tommy James & the Shondells. Alabama | Garage Hangover Memorial Coliseum, now known as Coleman Coliseum. Patsy Cline. The bands that performed were: The Beach Boys / lou christie / Ian Whitcomb / The Happenings / the hollies / peter and gordon. ", From rtrmark: "Alice Cooper. The band has undergone several incarnations. George Harrison is behind Dan on the left, John Lennon on the right. Bobby Dupree (L) and Sonny Grier of the Rockin' Gibraltars. Jimbo Jones (L) and Tommy Beavers look forward to the reunion of Harmony. Thats not to say Montgomery area favorite bands cant be seen any more. Patsy Cline Performs Her Final Show Country Music Memories; Most Wanted Music: 2023's Country and Americana Album Releases; Follow Us. I don't even think it was a sell out. I was blown away. Many regulars from the Kove days brought their grown children and will likely do so again. ", From bamamaam: "What about the lynyrd skynyrd concert at rickwood field in the '70's.? Yet. . The Louvin Brothers. "In those days, you could go to a concert and there was only one back door. Bama Country 98.9 - WBAM - Montgomery's Most Country Each episode had a specific theme, mission, or challenge which was accomplished by performing pranks, skateboarding, and enlisting the help of . Zero , Northwest Florida: 08/22/2010 - 08/29/2010 - Blogger The other name band on the show was the Allman Brothers, they had just released their first album. A recent Skype video call to his U.K. home found Whitwam fondly remembering the Hermits Big BAM Show performances. 2. Map of Alabama State, USA - Nations Online Project Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. I'll never forget it. Cosmic Slop was classic, turned that mother out. We put on a heck of a show, said Grier. 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? The concert series started around 1960 with such stars as Fabian and Brenda Lee. Neither Tommy Shaw nor Beth Nielsen Chapman will be on hand due to their schedules. I always got seats on the floor for the shows. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The Other Side of Montgomery: Growing Up White in the Birthplace of the 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. The Hollies. WBAM-FM - History - Former Programming and Personalities He was replaced by Johnny Townsend from Tuscaloosa, who was living with Duane and Gregg Allman in LA. In 1964 the Brennans Jacksonville, Florida station, WAPE, hosted the Beatles in concert at the Gator Bowl (see sidebar below). "Times have changed so," said a wistful Peek, the Shower of Stars devotee. The detailed map shows the US state of Alabama with boundaries, the location of the state capital Montgomery, major cities and populated places, rivers and lakes, interstate highways, principal highways, railroads and major airports. $14 million dollar house maine; 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. Consumate pranksters, duo Jan and Dean walk across the stage carrying a ladder to the surprise of Paul Revere and the Raiders' lead singer Mark Lindsey. Roy Orbis. The Four Seasons. Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park 52 Theaters Parks By Meowy 1973(?). Rich Thomas Weather. "There was a little office backstage, and I remember seeing my father and uncles back there with a security guard," Bartoletti says. He must have played an hour and 20 minutes or more. Chuck Berry was an intro-act, great show he put on. Anotherbrother, Bill Brennan, was the undisputed chief of the Jacksonville station, and had houses in Montgomery and Jacksonville. "I didn't stay up there too long," Brennan says, laughing. But the moment was indelible for one of his daughters, Debbie Brennan Bartoletti. Steve Lander, who originally booked Harvest at the Kove in 1975, has offered the Blue Iguana free for the night. "The Stranger album had just come out and was only beginning to get some air play. "I felt that I was lucky to be able to have the kind of job I had," Brennan says. 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. I think he could call his own shots.". Big Bam Fall Spectacular Concert History - Concert Archives 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.