big bam shows montgomery, alabama
Chuck Berry was an intro-act, great show he put on. So they both sang a few bars of the song, 'You're the Reason I'm Living," and we still couldn't decide which one was the real one. Categories . Men. Lowell George in his prime," says Bingothatwuzagoody. 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. Thomas, joined by John Kay (solo after leaving Steppenwolf), the Grass Roots and others. We were the opening act and it was the biggest crowd we had ever played before, nearly 30,000 people. FUNK-ON. 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. ", From StolibGeezer: "Zevon played the Alabama twice. (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The band's management initially asked for 85 percent of the ticket proceeds or $25,000, whichever was greater, Brennan says. Their first gig was at the Wetumpka Recreation Center where admission was $1. And the Shower of Stars concerts still linger in localmemory. 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. She remembers her father's words with startling clarity, along with the thrill she experiencedwhile sitting in the front row. Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis were on the bill, said Whitwam of their first performance at Garrett Coliseum. They didn't come to hear me; they came to hear the Rolling Stones.'". "People were going crazy, and you couldn't hear anything because the girls were screaming so loud," Bartoletti says. "Rolling Stones, October 5, 1989, Legion Field," said Emily A. zhonb.zulukazahn.best The entire show was magic, beginning with The Stranger and of course included many of the unknown Joel early songs. Props. He didn't insist onphotos. former wcti reporters; winter village montreal; western new england university greek life; 1980 camaro z28 for sale in canada. Bobby Goldsboro | Way Back Attack Herman's Hermits in the studio, Barry Whitwam on drums. I think he could call his own shots.". "Best concert I caught in this state was at Memorial Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1978 Lowell George and Little Feat. 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. ", From Eric Pendergrass: "Grateful Dead BJCC April 4,5 1995.". The Young Rascals. If it's all right with him, it's all right with me. "Bill" Brennan, one of the owners of The Big Bam, Montgomery's renowned 50,000-watt radio station. 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. They changed their name to Heart before eventually folding. Reactions to these picks -- made by entertainment reporters Matt Wake, Lawrence Specker and Mary Colurso -- ranged from praise to anger, support to dismay. ", From Jeremy Don McCollough: "Guns N' Roses played the Birmingham race course, it was a muddy mess. Gary Puckett & the Union Gap. Several others mentioned seeing the Rolling Stones in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. Montgomery | Garage Hangover All who attended the big September 19th show must present ticket stub at gate between 12 noon and 1PM. Can you say Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?". 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 Who played there. He founded his own company, Brennan Video Productions, in 1982and he continues to work there, transferring VHS tapes, old films and other retro footage to DVDs. The WVOK Shower of Stars was a series of concerts sponsored by WVOK-AM at the Birmingham Armory and later at Birmingham's Municipal Auditorium.Program director Dan Brennan organized the shows, which gained national notice.. Concerts. The eruption from the crowd was louder than expected but the lights were so blinding, we could not see the audience. Alicia McLeod - Vocals. He was a very special guy. "Fairgrounds Bham. 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). 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.. I never chased the stars around to hotels or anything. It was electric. George Cumuze, RN, Case Manager 4150 Carmichael Court Montgomery, AL 36106 334-270-2274. show . Shower of Stars - Bhamwiki 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. Anotherbrother, Bill Brennan, was the undisputed chief of the Jacksonville station, and had houses in Montgomery and Jacksonville. "We'd camp out at the door, on the steps and wait. Montgomery, AL | Data USA Flintstone House. 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. Dan Brennan recalls the reaction from performers. I'll never forget it. ", "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. In 2020, the median property value in Montgomery, AL was $121,100, and the homeownership rate was 54.1%. "Radio played the song every twenty minutes. You are free to use the above map for educational and similar purposes; if you publish it online or in print . We'd get hamburgers and bring them back, with someone always holding our place. Clipping found in Alabama Journal in Montgomery, Alabama on Mar 24, 1966. The station's transmitter is located in the town of Grady, Alabama. I was blown away. Many regulars from the Kove days brought their grown children and will likely do so again. 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). We do everything from Jerry Jeff Walker to the Grateful Dead to Van Morrison, says Pappas. For this little kid from Wetumpka, that was a big, big deal, he said. "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. at 3126 Jasmine Road, was built in the early 1960s by William J. 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. . Signature songs include Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison), Cryin (Roy Orbison). Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning to sports talk under the WMSP callsign in 1995. (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). Once solo and once with a band. Big Bam Show . Members: Mitch Alton (original member), Gregg Pappas, Ham Wilson, Bill Marshall , Dwight Williams, Rick Byrd, Orville Cain, Carl Tesh. 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. I said, 'Well, this is Roy's show. And they accepted it, but we did get the total amount of the gate that came in. Brennanleft the radio business for good in 1982. The Byrds. One of the Beach Boys told me it was the biggest talent show hed ever been in!. ", Jerry Tavin/Photo courtesy of Everett Collection, From mcarter3: "Uhh. Where's Jimi Hendrix's concert at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1969? How many people have been able to say this at a concert, facing a roaring crowd? The band also played Birmingham in May 1977, according to this story by Madison Underwood. ", From rtrmark: "Alice Cooper. "It was rewarding, because people seemed to respond to some of the things I was doing. 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. Concert History of Garrett Coliseum Montgomery, Alabama, United States Patsy Cline Performs Her Final Show Country Music Memories; Most Wanted Music: 2023's Country and Americana Album Releases; Follow Us. Top (l-r), Keith Brewer, Ed Sanford and Sonny Grier. ", From estevev: "Of the ones I attended, the most memorable ones were -- Ike and Tina Turner Review, Plush Horse, (1974? 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. Tommy James Interview: Singer Discusses His Autobiography 'Me, the Mob Big Bam Show. Show Hide article text (OCR) Jones, now 59, also played school dances and armories in a group called The Drones. 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. He recalls the popular hangouts for older teens and the legendary "Big Bam Shows" of the period. 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. WBAM-FM - History - Former Programming and Personalities Disbanded in 66, reunited 76, returned to active performance 1991. They actually were already signed to join, when Peace Concerts booked the January 31, 1975 show. ", From Denniswingo: "The Grateful Dead in 1978 at the Boutwell Auditorium. 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. "We gave everybody who came a free rain parka. I remember some of them telling us they came to every show that whole year.". "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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The Brennan Brothers were radio broadcast innovators of the 1950s and 60s, when they owned and operated powerhouse stations in Jacksonville, Chattanooga, and . 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. ", "Leo Kottke, Foster Auditorium, UA campus, about 1974," said 57939names. I've seen so many good shows in Birmingham over the years! I tasted my first grits there my very first grit (laughs). But in the minds of Alabama listeners, WVOK and WBAM ruled supreme, and the stations were closely linked by their concert series. 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. 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. The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC. 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. 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. JLL put on a hell of a show also. "Bill" Brennan, Billy Benns (Jr.) and Mrs. Luella B. Aldridge. The audience was huge, sold out, 10,000 or more. ); 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). The Hollies. Big Bam Fall Spectacular Concert History - Concert Archives WVOK Shower Of Stars-Advertisements Her harmonies with Eddie and Jimbo were legendary, and thus the group found its new name. Jerry Lee Lewis, the Brennans said. big bam shows montgomery, alabama. "There was a little office backstage, and I remember seeing my father and uncles back there with a security guard," Bartoletti says. His family owned WBAM in Montgomery, and WVOK in Birmingham, both 50,000 watt clear channels stations back in the day. +40 (724) 307.599 Lu - Vi: 9:00 - 18:00; big bam shows montgomery, alabama I missed a bunch more, though!". Cosmic Slop was classic, turned that mother out. 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. ", 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. It was just before his popularity exploded. As Brennan recalls it, the Beach Boys were paid $7,500 for their performance, and the Rolling Stones received $5,000. Thanks to Donnie Brennan for the Elvis photos. 'I did it my way.'". 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. "Put You Down" was written by lead guitarist Max Kendrick and vocalist Rich Gainer. Grier continued to sing with trios and orchestras, performing at wedding receptions and private parties. Rinoplastia; Blefaroplastia I told someone to lower the seat, and when I sat down, it went all the way to the bottom, he said, chuckling. Otherwise . ", 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. He also helped to choose and line up some of the concert talent. the tall man aboriginal spirit; metadata api request failed: component conversion failed: file_ended; caleb foote sandlot Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning The Animals. Customer Help Desk "Tuscaloosa Memorial Coliseum 1972," said Randy Palmer. This might have swelled a lesser man's head, but for Brennan, it was all about connecting with the listeners. Pitiful (Otis Redding) sound so much better with real horns.. 100 feet later someone offered us tickets at face value. Map of Alabama State, USA - Nations Online Project J. Frank Wilson, and The Webs. 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. ", From Don Haley Benson: "Bruce Springsteen Born in the USA! Many who danced the night away to the Rockin Gibraltars or who nursed a beer and smoked a cigarette listening to Harmony, recall those days with particular fondness and with nostalgia for a time that wont likely return. ", 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." Shop Patio & Garden, including exclusive patio furniture from brands like Broyhill. DMX. Dan Brennan had the honor of introducing the Beatles. The Fabulous Shades 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. He remembers the Kove days with Harvest/Harmony fondly, not only for the bands music but the people who came to see them. We got started because of the Beatles, said Jimbo Jones, longtime singer and guitarist with Harmony, one of the most popular bands to come out of Montgomery that played in the mid to late 70s at Keglers Kove, the lounge at Bama Lanes. 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. WMSP - Wikiwand Its better than not being remembered at all.. The wildest thing other than the Troggs rocking out to "Wild Thing" and whipping around long dirty hanks of British hair was Lou Christie. to see more entries, Posted on November 1, 2011 by bob in Features. Think it was 1977," says Craigmo. Toni loved doing the show, but Daryl, who never enjoyed being on camera, did not. The Buckinghams. Instead, the concert was held at the Gator Bowl under the auspices of the Brennans Jacksonville station WAPE, the Big APE. "Elviswas an opening act," Brennan says. $14 million dollar house maine; The Beatles in Alabama? Big Lots Prattville: Furniture, mattress & home product store in big bam shows montgomery, alabama 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. big bam shows montgomery, alabama So many great City Stages performances: Chuck Berry (backed my some of Birmingham's finest), James Brown, Johnny Cash (right after Randy Newman! 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. December 3, 1955-As an extra Bonus..here's the advertisement for sister station WBAM, Montgomery, AL, when the very young Elvis Presley appeared. Formed: 1966, Tallassee. I had to play the whole set standing up!. If you were a teenager anywhere near Montgomery in the mid-60s and early 70s, the concert scene didnt get any better than the fanfests known as the Big BAM shows. "Lynyrd Skynyrd, after Montrose featuring Sammy Hagar July 4th, 1975 at Rickwood Field," said Bamabadger62. Joni Mitchell at Tuscaloosa 1975 would be third," said jarobertson. Saw them at the University of Alabama home coming in 1978 as well. ", Also on his list: "Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, and Jesse Colin Young and The Youngbloods, Legion Field, sometime in the 70's. Studio Phone Number: (334) 244-9898. Business Office/Studios 4101-A Wall Street Montgomery, AL 36106. That radio station had its concerts, too, dubbedJet-Fli Spectaculars, at the Soldiers &Sailors Memorial Auditorium. ", From cj75: "Grateful Dead, 5/17/77 in Tuscaloosa. 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. Hal Hodgens of WVOK is second from left. They moved to LA, minus Grier whod gotten married and had a new baby and didnt want to move. "In those days, you could go to a concert and there was only one back door. The last concert at Big Bam Fall Spectacular was on September 30, 1966. "That was before he became very big. When Cher and Sonny first met in 1963, she was 16, while he was 27 and married (he and his first wife were separated). When was the last concert at Big Bam Fall Spectacular? Members: Original members Larry Hoyle, Johnny Hassett and Ron Howard, plus Chris Seymour, Johnny Long, Jr. and Craig Young. They had the Stones in about 1963-64, with Brian Jones before he died. We were waiting at the Holiday Inn, in the bar at the hotel having a beer. Clayton, Hayward and Gradney. A license for the station was issued in 1952. WBAM | Brennan-Benns Broadcasting 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. Jimbo Jones (L) and Tommy Beavers look forward to the reunion of Harmony. The capsule was opened during a ceremony December 3, but a complete list of its contents were not released at the time. Things changed a little bit after that. "The level of excitement was unbelievable," Bartoletti says. Iron Butterfly. And the Brennans knew how to put on a show.. "It cost enough that we were lucky to come out with just enough and break even with it," Brennan says. 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. People would come night after night, said Lander, who owns Bama Lanes in Montgomery and Prattville. From au92536: "June Jam in Fort Payne - I know it's country BUT. "We're big on memories," Brennan says. Birmingham on May 20, 1967. It gave them a voice. It will be the first time theyve have been together since a reunion benefit at a local club in 2007. WMSP is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Local Rock 'n Roll 60s & 70s Style | Prime Montgomery He wants to go on late in the show.' ", 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." . We were all so nervous we wore dark sunglasses so nobody could see how scared we were, said Dupree. Then another. But in the stations' 1960s heyday, shows usually kicked off on Fridays inMontgomery atGarrett Coliseum and moved to Birmingham on Saturdays at Municipal Auditorium (now called Boutwell Auditorium). Other notable former personalities included Bill J. Moody, Paul Simpkins, Mark Robbins, Gene Hocutt and Joe Cook. "We never had a flop," Brennan says, "but we had some shows that were a little bit bigger than others. I'm sure they were totally confused.". 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. 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.