He didn't insist onphotos. From au92536: "June Jam in Fort Payne - I know it's country BUT. I remember some of them telling us they came to every show that whole year.". According to Dan, the only surviving brother, it was Bill's decision to offer$50,000 to the Beatles for their appearance at the Gator Bowl. Flintstone House. That was a lot of money. The . He was a very special guy. ", From Don Haley Benson: "Bruce Springsteen Born in the USA! "Cyril's idea was, 'Tell them to sing, just a little bit, and make sure that we get the right one.' (L-R) Bob Corley, David Headley, Cary Green, Jeffery Johnson, Bob Pike, John Key. Once solo and once with a band. To be honest, Brennan doesn't precisely recall what he said to the audience that evening, just before the mop-topped John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr took the stage. For an 18-year-old to take home a pillowsack full of dollars, that was quite a heady time.. This doesn't even scratch the surface! ", From Denniswingo: "The Grateful Dead in 1978 at the Boutwell Auditorium. ", 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." 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. I always got seats on the floor for the shows. Famous quotes containing the words historical and/or videos: 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. JLL put on a hell of a show also. "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. Just a few of the letters WBAM received from fans providing input into the acts they wished to see at the shows. 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. That's how we put together our shows. In 1964 the Brennans Jacksonville, Florida station, WAPE, hosted the Beatles in concert at the Gator Bowl (see sidebar below). We'd get hamburgers and bring them back, with someone always holding our place. One show in particular stands out. Their friends were quite envious when they got to hang out with the Grass Roots, Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds, Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders, and rode around with Eric Burden and the Animals. It was electric. "My brother, he was always a little bit of a gambler," Brennan says. Tommy James & the Shondells. A license for the station was issued in 1952. Several others mentioned seeing the Rolling Stones in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. Procedimientos. (The Beatles' popularity in the U.S. exploded in 1964, and that year's tour was a watershed moment for the band.). Lowell George in his prime," says Bingothatwuzagoody. 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 . 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. Cyril's wife Louise would make us outfits for the Shower of Stars, and we'd have on these big bell bottoms. We played all the way through college, says Long. The Grass Roots. Saw them at the University of Alabama home coming in 1978 as well. Brennan also remembers that Starr requested reinforcements to the stage area near his drum kit, because strong gusts lingered after the hurricane. Johnny Cash. The bands that performed were: The Beach Boys / lou christie / Ian Whitcomb / The Happenings / the hollies / peter and gordon. The largest universities in Montgomery, AL are Auburn University at Montgomery (975 degrees awarded in 2020), Faulkner University (844 degrees), and Alabama State University (712 degrees). It made me feel good in a way, he said. Men. Dislike Share. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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? 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. Hendrix only played a limited number of concerts before he died and the one in Tuscaloosa blew the top off Memorial Coliseum. . All who attended the big September 19th show must present ticket stub at gate between 12 noon and 1PM. 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). "Times have changed so," said a wistful Peek, the Shower of Stars devotee. We came along at just the right time.. ", From Larry Gilbreath: "I know it's been a long time ago but not one single June Jam in Fort Payne on the list unbelievable." 1973(?). I had to play the whole set standing up!. As a result, Captain and Tennille declined ABC's offer to do a second season. (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). But Lewis went over his allotted time. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Show Hide article text (OCR) 6 places sorted by traveler favorites Clear all filters 1. We didnt play where people sat around and drank. The other name band on the show was the Allman Brothers, they had just released their first album. One of its earliest Big BAM Shows featured Elvis Presley as he ascended to fame, on the same bill with Roy Acuff. The Big BAM was WBAM, the 50,000-watt AM radio station owned by the Brennan family, whose other Alabama station was Birminghams WVOK. Add the extra costs associated with security guards and insurance, and hiring bands is not a profitable option for many club owners. 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. Elton John played three different years and drew over 40,000 total. ", From David Hester: "Eagles at Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville in 1975. Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park 52 Theaters Parks By Meowy And the Shower of Stars concerts still linger in localmemory. We get young people, folks our age, and older folks, he said proudly. "There was a police line for the Beatles to run through, and the stage was built up so people couldn't get to them.". "It was a promotional thing for us. We rode up the . He would tear up the piano, Moody said, We couldnt find anyone to provide a piano, but he would put on a show. The Alabama band was the organizer and centerpiece, raising money for charity. One of the Beach Boys told me it was the biggest talent show hed ever been in!. 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. Anybody else remember seeing Joplin in Tuscaloosa? They agreed to do it, but they were on one end of it, and the Beach Boys were on the other end of it. 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. The Young Rascals. ", From Eric Pendergrass: "Grateful Dead BJCC April 4,5 1995.". Canned Heat. December 24, 1958: Jerry Lee Lewis ; December 12, 1959: Fabian, The Fleetwoods, The Browns, Floyd Robinson and Bobby Lee Trammell 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. Dan Brennan, center, with the Grass Roots. I said, 'Well, this is Roy's show. Solid show during a year held in very high regard by a large number of Deadheads. 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. Moody remembers Roy Orbison being one of the nicer, more polite performers, and the Grass Roots, Paul Revere and Buckinghams being easy to work with. 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. 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. Brennan bid farewell to concert promotion in 1973 --a necessary business decision, he says -- and for Birmingham music lovers, it was the end of an era. "Play It All Night Long." Their big prize was three VOX . "I always had an idea about saving memories for people, and using the media that was becoming available, and that's what led me into this.". Paul Revere & the Raiders. go to da moon copy and paste. Grier continued to sing with trios and orchestras, performing at wedding receptions and private parties. Nothing else necessary. to see more entries, Posted on June 1, 2011 by bob in Features. Music you could dance to It was just before his popularity exploded. Big Bam Show. 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. 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. The rock band played several times at the Shower of Stars and appeared at one of the last few shows in the concert series, in July 1972. 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. The last Big BAM show was headlined by B.J. 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. 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.. 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. 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. . 'I did it my way.'". In spirited retaliation, Paul Revere and the Raiders march in lock step across the stage behind performers Jan and Dean. Go to the Archives ", From dassani: "I was there Could not have been better! There was a little jealousy there.". Gary Puckett & the Union Gap. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. blues show montgomery, al 2021. guildford school of acting auditions; gilroy google font alternative; cuisinart steamer insert; Blog Post Title February 26, 2018. WBAM Big Bam Shows Remembered 3,983 views Aug 25, 2013 A real commercial from the 60's with announcer Bill J Moody .Exciting times as a teen.growing up in Montgomery. By the time we got to the steps of the BJCC a guy had a shoebox full of tickets that he was trying to sell for a buck each. We would skip class and work setting up the stages for free admission and backstage passes. "We all felt very privileged," Bartoletti says. The eruption from the crowd was louder than expected but the lights were so blinding, we could not see the audience. Rich Thomas Weather. From what we can tell, she appeared there in 1970, but the story mentions Dec. 3, 1970, as the date of her show. 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. Formed: 1972, Tuscaloosa. Chuck Berry was awesome and the Stones in their early days were unbelievable.". Joplin died on Oct. 4, 1970. shimano ep8 630wh battery range 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. Brennanleft the radio business for good in 1982. Big Bam Show . From Sell it to the tourists: "I saw an amazing Harry Chapin show at the BJCC Concert Hall in around 1978? Emerson, Lake and Palmer in QUAD sound - Tuscaloosa circa 1973. . Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Uploaded 11 years ago Music 4; Photos 0; Interview . ", 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. These are just a few of the acts presentedby the Brennans during the 1950s, '60s and early '70s. Both concerts were sold out. Bob was producing a medical documentary in Alabama, and also was a promoter for Evil Kneival and Chill Wills. ), "I remember we used to have people come out to our station on the Bessemer Superhighway," Brennan says, "and they would tell us that our transmitter -- we had a 50-kilowatt transmitter, and it was pretty close to their homes -- and they said, 'Well, I'm picking you up on my coffeepot.'". The early concert didn't begin until it was time for the second one, but it was worth the wait. 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. The Fabulous Shades A story by Ben Flanagan of AL.com, looking back at concerts at the coliseum, also mentions Joplin. So I went out and introduced Bobby Edwards, and he sang songs, and I came back about half an hour later, and I said, 'Now, here's Bobby Edwards!' ", From Ken Cole: "I was at Jerry Lee Lewis in Boutwell in the mid '60s when I was a kid. Whitwam remembers little of that show, but subsequent performances are crystal clear. 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. 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. "We'd camp out at the door, on the steps and wait. So many great City Stages performances: Chuck Berry (backed my some of Birmingham's finest), James Brown, Johnny Cash (right after Randy Newman! 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. 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. Some of the items will go on exhibit starting Thursday at the Alabama. 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. I missed a bunch more, though!". If it's all right with him, it's all right with me. Welcome to my Nightmare in Huntsville Von Braun 1975 and KISS in 1976 at Von Braun. K Jamie Carter Childhood Toys Childhood Memories Camille Redouble Sheila E Garrett Coliseum, in contrast, could hold 10,000+ for a single performance in Montgomery. Clipping found in Alabama Journal in Montgomery, Alabama on Mar 24, 1966. "They would be paying the acts, literally, in cash. I don't know, I guess people got to trust us. By 1972 the heyday of the big shows had passed. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that is rarely revealed within the pages of history texts. "It cost enough that we were lucky to come out with just enough and break even with it," Brennan says. He said, 'We're going to put both of them on.' Alicia McLeod - Vocals. And the Brennans knew how to put on a show.. 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. ", Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. We do everything from Jerry Jeff Walker to the Grateful Dead to Van Morrison, says Pappas. 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 . Inicio Quines somos? Each episode had a specific theme, mission, or challenge which was accomplished by performing pranks, skateboarding, and enlisting the help of . Elvis Presley. By nature, talent and inclination, Brennanwasentirely suited to the family business; thousands of fans knew his voice and remembered his name. Roy Orbis. White guys playing soul music!, Most of the stuff we played was music you could easily dance to, said Dupree. "Rickwood Field, late 70's. ", From StolibGeezer: "Zevon played the Alabama twice. I'm sure they were totally confused.". That way I could see the stars and hear the music better. By today's standards, his solution to the latter problemseems charmingly old-school. 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. "It was quite a thing.". The concert series started around 1960 with such stars as Fabian and Brenda Lee. He and his wife live north of Prattville in a 1930s shack, have three grown children and are expecting their first grandchild. During a recent show some ladies, obviously a few years older than him, recognized Grier from the early Gibraltar days. ", The Birmingham News file photo/Philip Barr. "I didn't stay up there too long," Brennan says, laughing. No mention does anyone else remember that?". 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. Can you say Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?". So it was a deliberate attempt to identify with people, and to recognize that they were requesting these songs. That was one of my first big gigs - the Big BAM shows! Edgar Winter Group with the Frankenstein tour," said Rick Allen. 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). 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. The Quad show was FREE! ", From cj75: "Grateful Dead, 5/17/77 in Tuscaloosa. Chuck Berry was an intro-act, great show he put on. The Who played there. "The Stranger album had just come out and was only beginning to get some air play. The football stadiumposed a few extra challenges, Brennan says, from seating assignments to sound quality to weather preparation. So we had another beer. Mountain 1971," said Billy Bromberg. The Righteous Brothers. Were a dance band.. "One of my favorites was RUSH 1981 Mobile Municipal Auditorium," said tgfmiss. 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. Ask anyone who was there. 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. He pulls this at every one of our shows. "To go to the concerts was huge. The Who. ", From GmanGent: "Alice Cooper Von Braun in 1974's Welcome to my Nightmare Tourone of the most successful tours financially up until that time. "It didn't matter. They have reformed several times with different members, playing for Lee High School reunions. 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. He even did about 30 seconds of Sweet Home Alabama (that was before that song was worn out). The father of six and grandfather of two currently lives in Montgomery and plays with the Bama Breeze Band. From kwe: "The best I've seen are all of the Big Bam shows during the '60s in Montgomery, Garrett Coliseum; Eagles, 1977 in Mobile: Fleetwood Mac, 1977 in Bham CC; Atlanta Rhythm Section, 1978 in Troy Sartain; Heart/America, 1985 in Montgomery CC; Stevie Ray Vaughn/Joe Cocker, 1986 in Bham Oak Mtn; Rolling Stones, 1989 in Bham Legion Field; John Fogerty/Willie Nelson, 2006 in Bham Oak Mtn; Chicago, 2011 in Mtgy MPAC. 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. They actually were already signed to join, when Peace Concerts booked the January 31, 1975 show. 1984 at the BJCC. 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. 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. "I'm so. Dan Brennan at the mic introducing the Beatles at their Gator Bowl appearance in Jacksonville, Florida. People came from several states to see these shows. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. recent post listing 31 of the greatest shows, according to this story by Madison Underwood, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Skyping with a Hermit The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC. A close second would be Yes at the Concert Hall in 2013. For this little kid from Wetumpka, that was a big, big deal, he said. People would come night after night, said Lander, who owns Bama Lanes in Montgomery and Prattville. FUNK-ON. They enjoy reminiscing about the stars, the shows and the fans who made it possible. From Brian Willis: "Any of Alabama's June Jams. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that. 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. The following year 13 acts played in WVOKs Shower of Stars show at Legion Field in Birmingham. Oh, and some guy named David on slide. (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). Beth Nielsen joined the group after Shaw left. Best Review Site for Digital Cameras. Rock 'n' roll had just started, and you were right in the middle of it.". 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. Hes been a school principal and now sells wholesale art, although business has been suffering due to the economy. From Mike Travis: "KISS, Van Halen, Rush, The Who, The Rolling Stones , Pink Floyd the racetrack mudfield to see GNR, Billy Joel and Elton John as well as the Eagles and Metallica in '81. 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. But from the . A memorable night that I won't ever forget. . It would be tough going back to ballrooms and small clubs after this. The wildest thing other than the Troggs rocking out to "Wild Thing" and whipping around long dirty hanks of British hair was Lou Christie.
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