", From estevev: "Of the ones I attended, the most memorable ones were -- Ike and Tina Turner Review, Plush Horse, (1974? Several others mentioned seeing the Rolling Stones in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. Whitwam remembers little of that show, but subsequent performances are crystal clear. He also helped to choose and line up some of the concert talent. People would come night after night, said Lander, who owns Bama Lanes in Montgomery and Prattville. 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. 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. 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. "It was rewarding, because people seemed to respond to some of the things I was doing. Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. Ask anyone who was there. Their first gig was at the Wetumpka Recreation Center where admission was $1. George Cumuze, RN, Case Manager 4150 Carmichael Court Montgomery, AL 36106 334-270-2274. show . That was one of my first big gigs - the Big BAM shows! 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. 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. The Beatles in Alabama? 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? Keith Richards was almost electrocuted when his guitar grounded on a mic. Springsteen played the 'short end' of the the Beard-Eaves with the curtain up. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. One show in particular stands out. He and his wife live north of Prattville in a 1930s shack, have three grown children and are expecting their first grandchild. Classics such as Midnight Hour, (Wilson Pickett), Knock on Wood (Eddie Floyd), and Mr. Paul Revere & the Raiders. Fans also rushed to nominate their favorites when asked for feedback. Members: Mitch Alton (original member), Gregg Pappas, Ham Wilson, Bill Marshall , Dwight Williams, Rick Byrd, Orville Cain, Carl Tesh. Montgomery's home for country music favorites like Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert . The audience was huge, sold out, 10,000 or more. Birmingham on May 20, 1967. Search the Largest Online Newspaper Archive. truly historic happening. I said, 'Elvis, I'm sorry, but we can't accommodate you, because it is his show.' Solid show during a year held in very high regard by a large number of Deadheads. . "Marty Robbins came up to me, and he looked so sad," Brennan recalls. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that. Beth Nielsen joined the group after Shaw left. Here, then, is a readers' choice list of 31 awesome concerts in Alabama, culled from email, Facebook and comments on the original post. He showed up about five minutes before his show was to go on. 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. For an 18-year-old to take home a pillowsack full of dollars, that was quite a heady time.. Some of the concerts took place in a single location -- most often, Jacksonville. Neil Diamond. The Big BAM was WBAM, the 50,000-watt AM radio station owned by the Brennan family, whose other Alabama station was Birminghams WVOK. ", From Cobb: "Buckingham Nicks in Morgan Auditorium Tuscaloosa Alabama Fall 1973.". It was just before his popularity exploded. Carl Perkins. Hendrix only played a limited number of concerts before he died and the one in Tuscaloosa blew the top off Memorial Coliseum. 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 . From au92536: "June Jam in Fort Payne - I know it's country BUT. . "Rolling Stones, October 5, 1989, Legion Field," said Emily A. ", From bamamaam: "What about the lynyrd skynyrd concert at rickwood field in the '70's.? She came back a few minutes later and absolutely blasted a massive bongo solo. 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 for the Big BAM and one in Jacksonville for the Big APE. 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 early concert didn't begin until it was time for the second one, but it was worth the wait. It feels good. We were waiting at the Holiday Inn, in the bar at the hotel having a beer. That one was epic alright, unlike any other! Its magic, said Beavers. ", Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Top (l-r), Keith Brewer, Ed Sanford and Sonny Grier. The station's studios are . April 8, 1967: State Coliseum, Montgomery, AL with Electric Prunes, Buckinghams, Lou Christie, Brian Hyland and The Jokers, Tommy James and The Shondells, Royal Guardsmen, The Blues Magoos, The Casinos and others "WBAM presents Big Bam All-Star Spring Show" April 14, 1967: University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA with Freudian Slip ); Lynyrd Skynyrd and Black Oak Arkansas, Rickwood Field (1975); Pink Floyd, Legion Field (1994); Peter Frampton and Robin Trower, Oak Mountain (1994); Rolling Stones, Legion Field (1994); Bruce Springsteen, BJCC, 2002; and, James Brown, Jubilee CityFest Montgomery (2003). 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. 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. It was a real happening thing.. View the Full Page. The WMSP studios are located on the 3rd floor of . ", From Ken Cole: "I was at Jerry Lee Lewis in Boutwell in the mid '60s when I was a kid. By nature, talent and inclination, Brennanwasentirely suited to the family business; thousands of fans knew his voice and remembered his name. Cyril's wife Louise would make us outfits for the Shower of Stars, and we'd have on these big bell bottoms. Dan Brennan had the honor of introducing the Beatles. 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. Bob Brennen gave me these. Alicia McLeod - Vocals. 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 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. From Billy Bromberg: "Led Zeppelin 1973, Coleman Coliseum." He would tear up the piano, Moody said, We couldnt find anyone to provide a piano, but he would put on a show. One big favorite, however, appears to be a '70s date at Legion Field. Formed: 1963, Troy. The Four Seasons. Toni loved doing the show, but Daryl, who never enjoyed being on camera, did not. The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC. "What's that Frank Sinatra song? 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. He kicked it off with (what else?) Bobby Darin. The Beach Boys. Memorial Coliseum, now known as Coleman Coliseum. Anotherbrother, Bill Brennan, was the undisputed chief of the Jacksonville station, and had houses in Montgomery and Jacksonville. Big Bam Fall Spectacular has had 1 concert. Bell. The Troggs. The bands that performed were: The Beach Boys / lou christie / Ian Whitcomb / The Happenings / the hollies / peter and gordon. Blue arcs of electricity knocked him unconscious and the show ended 15 minutes early. "Bill" Brennan, Billy Benns (Jr.) and Mrs. Luella B. Aldridge. 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. 6 places sorted by traveler favorites Clear all filters 1. ", From Art Meripol: "U2's Zoo Tour at Legion was pretty fun from the floor.". Louise Brennan, Cyril's wife, at the Beatles' press conference in Jacksonville. "Radio played the song every twenty minutes. The Huntsville Times file photo/Michael Proffitt. He never collectedconcertposters, handbills orother pieces of memorabilia. I've got to change clothes and everything.' He even did about 30 seconds of Sweet Home Alabama (that was before that song was worn out). We'd get hamburgers and bring them back, with someone always holding our place. I never chased the stars around to hotels or anything. ", From GmanGent: "Alice Cooper Von Braun in 1974's Welcome to my Nightmare Tourone of the most successful tours financially up until that time. ", From Shapeshiftinhmojo: "Jimi Hendrix played Alabama twice in both Tuscaloosa and Auburn in 1968 or 69. 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. We only heard them. We had enough left over that, for a lot of our promotions after that, people would get free raincoats.". to see more entries, Posted on June 1, 2011 by bob in Features. The Louvin Brothers. But with two hotshot rock bandson the bill at Legion Field, the twangier acts faced a tougher crowd and some of the musicians felt like underdogs. Oh, and some guy named David on slide. Clapton! 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. 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. It would be tough going back to ballrooms and small clubs after this. 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. J. Frank Wilson, and The Webs. (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). ", "Leo Kottke, Foster Auditorium, UA campus, about 1974," said 57939names. Beavers and Jones will be joined by former members Kelvin Holly, who works in the recording industry in Muscle Shoals and tours with Neil Young, and Bill Hinds, who tours with the Paul Thorn Band. When Cher and Sonny first met in 1963, she was 16, while he was 27 and married (he and his first wife were separated). She remembers her father's words with startling clarity, along with the thrill she experiencedwhile sitting in the front row. 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. A recent Skype video call to his U.K. home found Whitwam fondly remembering the Hermits Big BAM Show performances. The Big Bam shows in Montgomery were on my list," said Jack Boles. He must have played an hour and 20 minutes or more. I missed a bunch more, though!". Men. "The Stranger album had just come out and was only beginning to get some air play. "Excuse me---did I miss the ROLLING STONES STEEL WHEELS TOUR??????????????????" 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. Cosmic Slop was classic, turned that mother out. Tommy James & the Shondells. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. ", From StolibGeezer: "Zevon played the Alabama twice. Dan Brennan recalls the reaction from performers. Hello? Lindley. We came along at just the right time.. 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 . In most cases, the concertswere multi-act affairs, featuring the hottest names the radio stations could secure. Alabama Shakespeare Festival 192 Theaters By Questovia Attended the production of Macbeth in this stunning theater and enjoyed every moment of it. The most popular group, both Brennan brothers agree, was Hermans Hermits (see sidebar below). BOBBY GOLDSBORO. The Rogues of Montgomery, AL cut one great rock single, "Put You Down" b/w a version of "Stormy Monday Blues". FACIAL. The Who played there. nellson nutraceutical revenue; arlington catholic basketball roster; jack cawood and suzy hunt; lawn vacuum for acorns rental. Wish I had gotten one. Patsy Cline. Gate Band In 1964 the Brennans booked the Beatles for a concert in either Legion Field in Birmingham, or Garrett Coliseum or Crampton Bowl in Montgomery. White guys playing soul music!, Most of the stuff we played was music you could easily dance to, said Dupree. 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. "It cost enough that we were lucky to come out with just enough and break even with it," Brennan says. Chuck Berry was an intro-act, great show he put on. Anybody remember that one? The Fab Four wouldnt play to segregated audiences, and at that time this was the case in Alabama. We were very obnoxious to the security guard, who was the nicest guy, and of course, we would go in and outside all the time. Keyboardist Mark Marvin will fill in for Eddie Wohlford who is unable to attend. 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. Tickets to these shows were typically $3 to $4. Jones, now 59, also played school dances and armories in a group called The Drones. 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. "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. He said, 'We're going to put both of them on.' The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC. 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. While Gator Bowl officials relented to a desegregated audience for the concert, two other venues Epstein had chosen were problematic. recent post listing 31 of the greatest shows, according to this story by Madison Underwood, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. The Grass Roots. They played at YMCAs, American Legion halls, private parties, and dances all over south Alabama, Panama City, Savannah, and Greenville, Miss. The primary reason for the shows was to keep a personal relationship with the listeners, said Dan Brennan, 81, former general manager at WVOK. Emerson, Lake and Palmer in QUAD sound - Tuscaloosa circa 1973. Wed ask them, Who would you like to see? Then wed select artists for the shows from this listener input.. Mosley tribes Lyndel . Famous quotes containing the words historical and/or videos: They have reformed several times with different members, playing for Lee High School reunions. The Buckinghams. It was elbow to elbow in there, remembered drummer Tommy Beavers. It wasnt concerts where you played and 500 people sat down and listened to you. How many people have been able to say this at a concert, facing a roaring crowd? ", Several readers mentioned Lynyrd Skynyrd as a given, pointing to various concerts throughout the state. I was blown away. Many regulars from the Kove days brought their grown children and will likely do so again. This might have swelled a lesser man's head, but for Brennan, it was all about connecting with the listeners. From what we can tell, she appeared there in 1970, but the story mentions Dec. 3, 1970, as the date of her show. Neither Tommy Shaw nor Beth Nielsen Chapman will be on hand due to their schedules. It is amazing to think that was 41 years ago. 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 eruption from the crowd was louder than expected but the lights were so blinding, we could not see the audience. "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. Thanks to Donnie Brennan for the Elvis photos. In spirited retaliation, Paul Revere and the Raiders march in lock step across the stage behind performers Jan and Dean. But the moment was indelible for one of his daughters, Debbie Brennan Bartoletti. And they accepted it, but we did get the total amount of the gate that came in. Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park 52 Theaters Parks By Meowy I tasted my first grits there my very first grit (laughs). It was everything. Hes been a school principal and now sells wholesale art, although business has been suffering due to the economy. "Put You Down" was written by lead guitarist Max Kendrick and vocalist Rich Gainer. ", From rtrmark: "Alice Cooper. One of Brennan's favorite anecdotes concerns a young Elvis Presley, making waves and jostling for position before a concerton Dec. 3,1955, at Garrett Coliseum. Props. It will be the first time theyve have been together since a reunion benefit at a local club in 2007. I've seen so many good shows in Birmingham over the years! 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. These are just a few of the acts presentedby the Brennans during the 1950s, '60s and early '70s. The last Big BAM show was headlined by B.J. ", From Jeremy Don McCollough: "Guns N' Roses played the Birmingham race course, it was a muddy mess. 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.. "Eight Days a Week -- The Touring Years. That radio station had its concerts, too, dubbedJet-Fli Spectaculars, at the Soldiers &Sailors Memorial Auditorium. Herman's Hermits in the studio, Barry Whitwam on drums. "We gave everybody who came a free rain parka. Dan Brennan, center, backstage at the Shower of Stars with with Paul Revere & the Raiders. Yes, the Beatles' performance was "a really big show," as Ed Sullivan wouldhave said. 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. They moved to LA, minus Grier whod gotten married and had a new baby and didnt want to move. 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. ", From bhamboost: "Parliament Funkadelic Mothership Connection 1976. The show is a spin-off from MTV 's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast appeared. 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. With no sound checks between acts, group would run on stage and begin playing almost immediately. Her very own father was on stage, standing closeto four of the most famous musicians in the world. He wants to go on late in the show.' Inicio Quines somos? 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. Formed: 1966, Tallassee.