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

Big Bam Fall Spectacular has had 1 concert. A close second would be Yes at the Concert Hall in 2013. 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. ", Jerry Tavin/Photo courtesy of Everett Collection, From mcarter3: "Uhh. Where's Jimi Hendrix's concert at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1969? Hendrix only played a limited number of concerts before he died and the one in Tuscaloosa blew the top off Memorial Coliseum. She came back a few minutes later and absolutely blasted a massive bongo solo. Tommy James & Ed Sullivan. We would skip class and work setting up the stages for free admission and backstage passes. We had enough left over that, for a lot of our promotions after that, people would get free raincoats.". He pulls this at every one of our shows. 'I did it my way.'". It was a hold out because they had missed a previous show in May of 1974. "We had to import parkas, raincoats from Taiwan, so that was our rain insurance," Brennan says, laughing. Deep South Broadcasting was the licensee of WBAM-AM, 740 kc with 50,000 watts daytime in Montgomery. Its effortless., Even after all these years, agreed Jones. 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. When Cher and Sonny first met in 1963, she was 16, while he was 27 and married (he and his first wife were separated). His clothes were all rumpled, and he said, 'Dan, I need to go on later in the show. Alabama Shakespeare Festival 192 Theaters By Questovia Attended the production of Macbeth in this stunning theater and enjoyed every moment of it. Think it was 1977," says Craigmo. Signature songs include Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison), Cryin (Roy Orbison). And if we hadn't had (Hurricane Dora), we would have made a lot of money. "It was rewarding, because people seemed to respond to some of the things I was doing. ", Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. And they accepted it, but we did get the total amount of the gate that came in. Its better than not being remembered at all.. He was lead singer of the Rockin Gibraltars, formed in 1965 by a group of students at Lee High School. He didn't insist onphotos. "The level of excitement was unbelievable," Bartoletti says. He remembers the Kove days with Harvest/Harmony fondly, not only for the bands music but the people who came to see them. Rich Thomas Weather. "Probably the most famous and beloved would be Buckingham Nicks at Boutwell in January of 1975. We made $100, remembers Grier. "Billsaid, 'Well, if anybody makes any money out of it, it's going to be me.' 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. All rights reserved (About Us). The Alabama band was the organizer and centerpiece, raising money for charity. Top (l-r), Keith Brewer, Ed Sanford and Sonny Grier. "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. But from the . 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! Herman's Hermits in the studio, Barry Whitwam on drums. (In 1965, Legion Field could seat more than 68,000 people.) 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. Back then, thats what music was about, remembers Bobby Dupree, 63, drummer with The Rockin Gibraltars, a popular Montgomery-based group in the 60s. Grier continued to sing with trios and orchestras, performing at wedding receptions and private parties. Elton John played three different years and drew over 40,000 total. Make Favorite Store Contact 1957 Cobbs Ford Rd. 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 Quad show was FREE! Men. For more, visit Rich's YouTube Channel . HOW COME PAUL GODDARD PUSHES HIS GLASSES UP THE BRIDGE OF HIS NOSE? former wcti reporters; winter village montreal; western new england university greek life; 1980 camaro z28 for sale in canada. ", From Cobb: "Buckingham Nicks in Morgan Auditorium Tuscaloosa Alabama Fall 1973.". Hank Williams was another frequent live on-air performer. 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. "Times have changed so," said a wistful Peek, the Shower of Stars devotee. Tickets were priced at$1.50-$5.50 per show, Brennan says, and artists' fees usually ran about $300-$7,500 per act. Dislike Share. Deep South was incorporated in late July of 1950 with a capitalization of $60,000. "I think the story about Buckingham Nicks is pretty interesting. How many people have been able to say this at a concert, facing a roaring crowd? By the time they came to get us we were pretty shozzeled.. Both stations played Top 40 hits of the day, and the concerts were the Brennans' gifts to a loyal radio audience. Published by at February 16, 2022. I'm sure they were totally confused.". White guys playing soul music!, Most of the stuff we played was music you could easily dance to, said Dupree. "(Listeners) would tell us what they liked and didn't like. WMSP is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, United States. ", All three Brennan brothers were ambitious businessmen who worked as a team. One big favorite, however, appears to be a '70s date at Legion Field. "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, 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. Mountain 1971," said Billy Bromberg. the tall man aboriginal spirit; metadata api request failed: component conversion failed: file_ended; caleb foote sandlot "Fairgrounds Bham. You can either do that, or you will not have a place to change. 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. Once solo and once with a band. Thousands of Beatles fans were ready to twist and shout in the Southeast, and the Brennan clan had made it happen. December 24, 1958: Jerry Lee Lewis ; December 12, 1959: Fabian, The Fleetwoods, The Browns, Floyd Robinson and Bobby Lee Trammell "Bill" Brennan, Billy Benns (Jr.) and Mrs. Luella B. Aldridge. Famous quotes containing the words historical and/or videos: Canned Heat. Renamed Rock Hull Band in 77 before reclaiming original name in 90. ", From Ken Cole: "I was at Jerry Lee Lewis in Boutwell in the mid '60s when I was a kid. "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.". (It was free.) The Brennan Brothers were radio broadcast innovators of the 1950s and 60s, when they owned and operated powerhouse stations in Jacksonville, Chattanooga, and . ", From ghostreader: "Springsteen, mobile civic center theater may 1976. Big BAM shows, Montgomery Several readers made fond mention of multi-act shows presented by WBAM-AM, a sister station to Birmingham's WVOK-AM, during the 1960s and early '70s. The band also played Birmingham in May 1977, according to this story by Madison Underwood. Their big prize was three VOX . Jimbo Jones (L) and Tommy Beavers look forward to the reunion of Harmony. They actually were already signed to join, when Peace Concerts booked the January 31, 1975 show. ", "Leo Kottke, Foster Auditorium, UA campus, about 1974," said 57939names. We put on a heck of a show, said Grier. BB King's penultimate show at the Alabama (sitting but still playing and not drifting into non sequitur land). The last concert at Big Bam Fall Spectacular was on September 30, 1966. We didnt play where people sat around and drank. The Rogues of Montgomery, AL cut one great rock single, "Put You Down" b/w a version of "Stormy Monday Blues". Brennan and his wife, Clara, who handled ticketing, estimate that one-third of the tickets for any Shower of Stars datewere purchased on faith, before the lineup was ever announced. Bobby Dupree (L) and Sonny Grier of the Rockin' Gibraltars. Go to the Archives 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. But the moment was indelible for one of his daughters, Debbie Brennan Bartoletti. Birmingham on May 20, 1967. And didn't ever explain to the people what had happened. The Temptations and The Supremes, The TCB Tour, Auburn University, 1972. Gate Band "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. Most recently they performed earlier this year for a benefit show for ailing former bandmate Keith Brewer, who died in April of cancer. Thomas, joined by John Kay (solo after leaving Steppenwolf), the Grass Roots and others. So many great City Stages performances: Chuck Berry (backed my some of Birmingham's finest), James Brown, Johnny Cash (right after Randy Newman! (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). He also helped to choose and line up some of the concert talent. Members: Original members John Key, David Headley and Bob Corley plus David Langford, Mike Mobley, Larry Hughes, Bobby Johnson and Rick Roper. "Two guitars and a stool. "Marty Robbins came up to me, and he looked so sad," Brennan recalls. 1973(?). For an 18-year-old to take home a pillowsack full of dollars, that was quite a heady time.. The band's management initially asked for 85 percent of the ticket proceeds or $25,000, whichever was greater, Brennan says. Jones, now 59, also played school dances and armories in a group called The Drones. 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). It was electric. In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero f. Home; My Books; Browse . ); 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). 100 feet later someone offered us tickets at face value. The father of six and grandfather of two currently lives in Montgomery and plays with the Bama Breeze Band. Shop Now 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. Bobby Darin. "We all felt very privileged," Bartoletti says. I remember some of them telling us they came to every show that whole year.". Although he admits to anoccasional pang of longing, looking back on his previouscareer, Brennan is far from retired. The concert series started around 1960 with such stars as Fabian and Brenda Lee. I think he could call his own shots.". Both stations played Top 40 hits of the day, and the concerts were the Brennans gifts to a loyal radio audience. Its amazing the life we got to live.. The mothership landed in the BJCC that night. It was great! One of the best concerts ever for Blues in Birmingham. said donnna. He would tear up the piano, Moody said, We couldnt find anyone to provide a piano, but he would put on a show. Hal Hodgens of WVOK is second from left. "Eight Days a Week -- The Touring Years. Instant Help Questions? ', "We went over there and asked Roy, and he said, 'No, we're not going to do that. Wish I had gotten one. 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. George Cumuze, RN, Case Manager 4150 Carmichael Court Montgomery, AL 36106 334-270-2274. show . Dan Brennan, center, backstage at the Shower of Stars with with Paul Revere & the Raiders. "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. I just went to the Coliseum for the music. 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. We didn't make any money.". From Sell it to the tourists: "I saw an amazing Harry Chapin show at the BJCC Concert Hall in around 1978? A memorable night that I won't ever forget. Rock 'n' roll had just started, and you were right in the middle of it.". People came from several states to see these shows. J Jackie Culpepper 662 followers More information WBAM Big Bam Shows Remembered Record Case Montgomery Growing Up 60s Old Things Teen Memories Remember Videos 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. It was just before his popularity exploded. So we had another beer. Its magic, said Beavers. 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. His current band, The Soul Crackas, does many of the same soul hits the Rockin Gibraltar performed. I dont feel like well have any problem (remembering their songs). Its a good bet theyll play some Steely Dan, Crosby, Stills & Nash, a favorite, Sweet Magnolia, and Bill Hinds rendition of Joe Walshs Rocky Mountain Way.. $14 million dollar house maine; View the Full Page. fireworks at the end while playing freebird.??? They would buy so many tickets in advance, we didn't have to worry about whether they were going to come or not.". 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. I don't even think it was a sell out. 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 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. Still, for radio listeners who tuned into WVOK back in the day, Brennan will always be Dan the Music Man. If it's all right with him, it's all right with me. Nothing else necessary. 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. . The last Big BAM show was headlined by B.J. The Lovin' Spoonful. "Put You Down" was written by lead guitarist Max Kendrick and vocalist Rich Gainer. ", 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." "Bill" Brennan, one of the owners of The Big Bam, Montgomery's renowned 50,000-watt radio station. "Best concert I caught in this state was at Memorial Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1978 Lowell George and Little Feat. But Lewis went over his allotted time. Sonny Grier is another longtime Montgomery band member who still plays music. There was always so much excitement surrounding the shows, Knapp said. The Who played there. . My personal favorite concert of all times was Billy Joel at the BJCC Concert Hall. George Howell, who as George the D.J. co-hosted Hubcap Classics, was a big fan of the BAM shows beginning in the 9th grade. Wed go all over, even the Old Dutch in Panama City.. Montgomery resident Mike Vickery remembers getting a friends mother to drive him and others to the WBAM station to get tickets as soon as they went on sale so we could get them near the front on the floor. On one occasion, he accompanied some female friends to the Diplomat Inn where they spotted Lou Christie sitting by the pool, a secret one of them has never told her mother to this day.. And not just the concerts, but the whole experience building up to it. Any of the Yes shows in Birmingham! 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, J. Frank Wilson, and The Webs. The Rockin' Rebellions won top honors - beating out 67 other bands from throughout Alabama. Tommy James & the Shondells. It was a real happening thing.. 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 bands that performed were: The Beach Boys / lou christie / Ian Whitcomb / The Happenings / the hollies / peter and gordon. "We gave everybody who came a free rain parka. Members: Mitch Alton (original member), Gregg Pappas, Ham Wilson, Bill Marshall , Dwight Williams, Rick Byrd, Orville Cain, Carl Tesh. Search the Largest Online Newspaper Archive. He showed up about five minutes before his show was to go on. The Troggs. "It was quite a thing.". 6 places sorted by traveler favorites Clear all filters 1. He wants to go on late in the show.' That was a lot of money. "I didn't stay up there too long," Brennan says, laughing. Big Bam Show . Several readers made fond mention of multi-act shows presented by WBAM-AM, a sister station to Birmingham's WVOK-AM, during the 1960s and early '70s. Im content where Im at, said Beavers, except I could lose about 80 pounds.. 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. Formed: 1963, Troy. It gave them a voice. BOBBY GOLDSBORO. All rights reserved (About Us). Whitwam, now in his 47th year playing music, is pleased with the makeup of their current audiences. 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 band has undergone several incarnations. 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 station's transmitter is located in the town of Grady, Alabama. Gary Puckett & the Union Gap. She remembers her father's words with startling clarity, along with the thrill she experiencedwhile sitting in the front row. Anybody remember that one? ", From UABMBA: "One of the greatest concerts in Alabama was The Rolling Stones with Chuck Berry at Auburn Memorial Coliseum, November 14, 1969. (The Beatles' popularity in the U.S. exploded in 1964, and that year's tour was a watershed moment for the band.). By nature, talent and inclination, Brennanwasentirely suited to the family business; thousands of fans knew his voice and remembered his name. We enjoyed all the years we spent in radio, said Dan Brennan, who now owns a video production company in Birmingham. We were all so nervous we wore dark sunglasses so nobody could see how scared we were, said Dupree. In 2020, the median property value in Montgomery, AL was $121,100, and the homeownership rate was 54.1%. We came along at just the right time.. With an amazing backing band, he proceeded to entertain the entire evening. Vocalist in Salem, Alabama 1,320 views on fandalism. There was a little jealousy there.". Bottom (l-r), Ronnie Monroe, Bobby Dupree and Rusty Crumpton. Studio Phone Number: (334) 244-9898. Business Office/Studios 4101-A Wall Street Montgomery, AL 36106. He said, 'We're going to put both of them on.' This might have swelled a lesser man's head, but for Brennan, it was all about connecting with the listeners. (His moniker on the air: Dan the Music Man. ", "I don't know if it has been mentioned yet, but for the Alabama Theater I would definitely include Warren Zevon's show in, what?.1986 or '87?, said earman1. Elvis Presley. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. They didn't come to hear me; they came to hear the Rolling Stones.'". 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. Ticket prices were never more expensive than $4.00. 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. I always was impressed about how well the bands performed when they were live, even though the Coliseum acoustics werent so good.. 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. ", From Shapeshiftinhmojo: "Jimi Hendrix played Alabama twice in both Tuscaloosa and Auburn in 1968 or 69. Jerry Lee Lewis, the Brennans said. ", Also on his list: "Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, and Jesse Colin Young and The Youngbloods, Legion Field, sometime in the 70's. 1984 at the BJCC. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. Otherwise . Yet. Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. "People were going crazy, and you couldn't hear anything because the girls were screaming so loud," Bartoletti says. "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 wanted us to sign a management contract with him, but we were still under contract with Marshall and . ", From cj75: "Grateful Dead, 5/17/77 in Tuscaloosa. Classics such as Midnight Hour, (Wilson Pickett), Knock on Wood (Eddie Floyd), and Mr. Several others mentioned seeing the Rolling Stones in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. I tasted my first grits there my very first grit (laughs). at 3126 Jasmine Road, was built in the early 1960s by William J. I said, 'Well, you've got a choice here. The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC. Her very own father was on stage, standing closeto four of the most famous musicians in the world. "Radio played the song every twenty minutes. Find the answers to any question. ", 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. That's how we put together our shows. Which concerts will go down in history at Alabama music venues? Chuck Berry was awesome and the Stones in their early days were unbelievable.". Of all the concerts I've been to in my lifetime, this one was the most memorable. Saw them at the University of Alabama home coming in 1978 as well. nellson nutraceutical revenue; arlington catholic basketball roster; jack cawood and suzy hunt; lawn vacuum for acorns rental. Oh, and some guy named David on slide. Music you could dance to [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. 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. 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. Patsy Cline. 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. The Rogues recorded the 45 in February of 1966, for MBM Records, a Birmingham, Alabama label that goes back to the early '60s. Four dates per year were standard -- in winter, spring, summer and fall -- and total attendance topped out at 15,000 people for each three-show stint in Birmingham. 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 was before he became very big. You are free to use the above map for educational and similar purposes; if you publish it online or in print . Dan Brennan, center, with the Grass Roots. But it never happened. Hes been a school principal and now sells wholesale art, although business has been suffering due to the economy. Brennan had many encounters with celebritiesover his three decades as a concert promoter, but says he never felt famous -- not even when he was widely regardedas a household name in Birmingham radio. Joni Mitchell at Tuscaloosa 1975 would be third," said jarobertson. Now sales manager for a Dothan radio station, Moody fondly remembers working as a teenager at a 1959 WBAM concert featuring singer Connie Francis. In the 1960's WVOK, in Birmingham Alabama, would have the top bands play at one huge concert. 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. The Fabulous Shades Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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). It was a clear channel station that covered over 90 counties in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, and could be heard everywhere.