It was great! That one was epic alright, unlike any other! December 24, 1958: Jerry Lee Lewis ; December 12, 1959: Fabian, The Fleetwoods, The Browns, Floyd Robinson and Bobby Lee Trammell 1973(?). ", From Cobb: "Buckingham Nicks in Morgan Auditorium Tuscaloosa Alabama Fall 1973.". Of all the concerts I've been to in my lifetime, this one was the most memorable. Chuck Berry was awesome and the Stones in their early days were unbelievable.". It feels good. People came from several states to see these shows. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The Troggs. Montgomery's home for country music favorites like Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert . Can you believe it? By 1972 the heyday of the big shows had passed. It was just the coolest thing.". YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. FUNK-ON. JLL put on a hell of a show also. Music you could dance to 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. Clipping found in Alabama Journal in Montgomery, Alabama on Mar 24, 1966. fireworks at the end while playing freebird.??? Think it was 1977," says Craigmo. REENADED . 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. The last concert at Big Bam Fall Spectacular was on September 30, 1966. 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. Both Shaw and Chapman have gone on to stardom as performers and songwriters.]. Nothing else necessary. Wish I had gotten one. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. "I felt that I was lucky to be able to have the kind of job I had," Brennan says. They played at YMCAs, American Legion halls, private parties, and dances all over south Alabama, Panama City, Savannah, and Greenville, Miss. 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. With an amazing backing band, he proceeded to entertain the entire evening. One big favorite, however, appears to be a '70s date at Legion Field. (L-R) Bob Corley, David Headley, Cary Green, Jeffery Johnson, Bob Pike, John Key. He even did about 30 seconds of Sweet Home Alabama (that was before that song was worn out). WVOK is now all-sports. "What's that Frank Sinatra song? The last Big BAM show was headlined by B.J. Alabama State Coliseum (1951-1963) Garrett Coliseum (1963-) Oct 5 2019 Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. The Beach Boys were fresh-faced headliners that night, riding high on the success of hits such as "I Get Around," "Surfer Girl," "Surfin' U.S.A,""Help Me, Rhonda" and "California Girls." Hal Hodgens of WVOK is second from left. So it was a deliberate attempt to identify with people, and to recognize that they were requesting these songs. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that. Some of the concerts took place in a single location -- most often, Jacksonville. Roy Orbison. 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. Make Favorite Store Contact 1957 Cobbs Ford Rd. We made $100, remembers Grier. Cosmic Slop was classic, turned that mother out. When I got on stage the drum kit seat was way too high. I said, 'Cyril, what do you think we ought to do?' 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.. 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. He would tear up the piano, Moody said, We couldnt find anyone to provide a piano, but he would put on a show. These are just a few of the acts presentedby the Brennans during the 1950s, '60s and early '70s. Lowell George in his prime," says Bingothatwuzagoody. Id never seen anybody get an audience so excited, Dan Brennan remembered. Those two days in Alabama left a lasting impression on us because it was how we measured the rest of our gigs.. The primary reason for the shows was to keep a personal relationship with the listeners, said Dan Brennan, 81, former general manager at WVOK. I was blown away. Many regulars from the Kove days brought their grown children and will likely do so again. Instant Help Questions? Reactions to these picks -- made by entertainment reporters Matt Wake, Lawrence Specker and Mary Colurso -- ranged from praise to anger, support to dismay. Steve Lander, who originally booked Harvest at the Kove in 1975, has offered the Blue Iguana free for the night. 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. WBAM Big Bam Shows; Dan's Dusty Discs WBAM; WBAM Pictures; Read more about this topic: WBAM-FM, History. The other was Municipal Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, where a show had been set for September 15 th. 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. 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. Gobs of people have asked us when were going to do another reunion. "It was a promotional thing for us. (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). Ticket prices were $2 for shows in the early 1960s, gradually increasing to a top price of $5.50, a pittance by todays standards. Alicia McLeod - Vocals. "I'm so. ", From Shapeshiftinhmojo: "Jimi Hendrix played Alabama twice in both Tuscaloosa and Auburn in 1968 or 69. The band also played Birmingham in May 1977, according to this story by Madison Underwood. That radio station had its concerts, too, dubbedJet-Fli Spectaculars, at the Soldiers &Sailors Memorial Auditorium. In most cases, the concertswere multi-act affairs, featuring the hottest names the radio stations could secure. Hes been a school principal and now sells wholesale art, although business has been suffering due to the economy. Saw them at the University of Alabama home coming in 1978 as well. And if we hadn't had (Hurricane Dora), we would have made a lot of money. My personal favorite concert of all times was Billy Joel at the BJCC Concert Hall. 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. We didnt play where people sat around and drank. She remembers her father's words with startling clarity, along with the thrill she experiencedwhile sitting in the front row. $14 million dollar house maine; WVOK used Legion Field as a test case that spring, Brennan says, to see if the Shower of Stars could work at Birmingham's largest venue. The Hollies. As Brennan recalls it, the Beach Boys were paid $7,500 for their performance, and the Rolling Stones received $5,000. Readers of AL.com have plenty of ideas. The Lovin' Spoonful. I have such fond memories of coming to Alabama. His family owned WBAM in Montgomery, and WVOK in Birmingham, both 50,000 watt clear channels stations back in the day. It was just before his popularity exploded. "People were going crazy, and you couldn't hear anything because the girls were screaming so loud," Bartoletti says. Show Duplicate for Mar 22, 2013: Mar 08, 2013 Justin Moore: Garrett Coliseum: From au92536: "June Jam in Fort Payne - I know it's country BUT. Bottom (l-r), Ronnie Monroe, Bobby Dupree and Rusty Crumpton. "We all felt very privileged," Bartoletti says. 0. blues show montgomery, al 2021. (In 1965, Legion Field could seat more than 68,000 people.) Brennan also remembers that Starr requested reinforcements to the stage area near his drum kit, because strong gusts lingered after the hurricane. Dan Brennan, center, with the Grass Roots. 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. . If you have one, it's going to be way down the other part of the field.' 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 Ken Cole: "I was at Jerry Lee Lewis in Boutwell in the mid '60s when I was a kid. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC. He showed up about five minutes before his show was to go on. ", From David Hester: "Eagles at Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville in 1975. A memorable night that I won't ever forget. "Tuscaloosa Memorial Coliseum 1972," said Randy Palmer. Just a few of the letters WBAM received from fans providing input into the acts they wished to see at the shows. Formed: 1972, Tuscaloosa. Anybody remember that one? Big Bam Show. Inicio Quines somos? (The Beatles' popularity in the U.S. exploded in 1964, and that year's tour was a watershed moment for the band.). Procedimientos. Big Bam Show . From Billy Bromberg: "Led Zeppelin 1973, Coleman Coliseum." Big Bam Show Montgomery, Al 1960s F.U.N. WBAM signed on in 1953 as AM 740. The most entertaining act? This doesn't even scratch the surface! 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. big bam shows montgomery, alabama. This might have swelled a lesser man's head, but for Brennan, it was all about connecting with the listeners. He recalls the popular hangouts for older teens and the legendary "Big Bam Shows" of the period. ", 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. It was a real happening thing.. I tried to get us all to dress up as the Fruit of the Loom guys but no one wanted to., For musicians who played together for years, there wont be a need to practice much, if at all. Jerry Lee Lewis hristie Lou C. Paul Revere & the Raiders . That was a lot of money. 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. There was this woman who was playing the bongos who literally passed out playing. The Rogues of Montgomery, AL cut one great rock single, "Put You Down" b/w a version of "Stormy Monday Blues". Elton John played three different years and drew over 40,000 total. The football stadiumposed a few extra challenges, Brennan says, from seating assignments to sound quality to weather preparation. 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. A recent Skype video call to his U.K. home found Whitwam fondly remembering the Hermits Big BAM Show performances. Tommy James & the Shondells. Published by at February 16, 2022. "Fairgrounds Bham. 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. "Excuse me---did I miss the ROLLING STONES STEEL WHEELS TOUR??????????????????" "Bill" Brennan, one of the owners of The Big Bam, Montgomery's renowned 50,000-watt radio station. 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. "We gave everybody who came a free rain parka. Hisconcertseries rocked their worlds and shaped their music tastes, in tandem with WVOK. Welcome to my Nightmare in Huntsville Von Braun 1975 and KISS in 1976 at Von Braun. 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. Yes, the Beatles' performance was "a really big show," as Ed Sullivan wouldhave said. The concertlater gained a secure foothold in Alabamamusic history -- fans here still ooh and aah about it -- but it wasn't a money-making proposition. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that is rarely revealed within the pages of history texts. 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. A story by Ben Flanagan of AL.com, looking back at concerts at the coliseum, also mentions Joplin. Emerson, Lake and Palmer in QUAD sound - Tuscaloosa circa 1973. In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero f. The Other Side of Montgomery book. Skyping with a Hermit Respi Mee Sup Sabahiiat. BB King's penultimate show at the Alabama (sitting but still playing and not drifting into non sequitur land). Via a longstanding partnership with the Benns family, the Brennans also extended theirreach to Chattanooga, the home of WFLI-AM. "Billsaid, 'Well, if anybody makes any money out of it, it's going to be me.' Herman's Hermits in the studio, Barry Whitwam on drums. We'll have to ask him. But theres not a whole lot of money because theres no place for them to play. Solid show during a year held in very high regard by a large number of Deadheads. I was very happy with doing the work I did. 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. . Springsteen played the 'short end' of the the Beard-Eaves with the curtain up. That's how we put together our shows. ", The Birmingham News file photo/Philip Barr. White guys playing soul music!, Most of the stuff we played was music you could easily dance to, said Dupree. Dislike Share. 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. At least 25 people tried to jump the stage during the concert and were knocked backward into the crowd by gigantic stage bouncers! Im content where Im at, said Beavers, except I could lose about 80 pounds.. 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. Our four-piece horn section sets us apart, said Key. It's not like now, where they have secret tunnels and drive right into the auditorium.". "(Listeners) would tell us what they liked and didn't like. ", From Eric Pendergrass: "Grateful Dead BJCC April 4,5 1995.". 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. ", Also on his list: "Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, and Jesse Colin Young and The Youngbloods, Legion Field, sometime in the 70's. Bell. ", Several readers mentioned Lynyrd Skynyrd as a given, pointing to various concerts throughout the state. In the 1960s and early 1970s, the station sponsored a series of pop/rock concerts known as "Big BAM Shows" featuring acts ranging from Paul Revere and the Raiders, Lou Christie, and The Beach Boys to comedian Pat Paulsen. "We had to import parkas, raincoats from Taiwan, so that was our rain insurance," Brennan says, laughing. That was one of my first big gigs - the Big BAM shows! December 3, 1955-As an extra Bonus..here's the advertisement for sister station WBAM, Montgomery, AL, when the very young Elvis Presley appeared. By today's standards, his solution to the latter problemseems charmingly old-school. He never collectedconcertposters, handbills orother pieces of memorabilia. 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. . It was everything. Categories . "I don't have any regrets," hesays. "Rickwood Field, late 70's. Each episode had a specific theme, mission, or challenge which was accomplished by performing pranks, skateboarding, and enlisting the help of . The Four Seasons. The Quad show was FREE! ", "Leo Kottke, Foster Auditorium, UA campus, about 1974," said 57939names. The Alabama band was the organizer and centerpiece, raising money for charity. said donnna. "In those days, you could go to a concert and there was only one back door. They had easy backstage access, as well, and would confidently sashay throughout the venue. 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. Toni loved doing the show, but Daryl, who never enjoyed being on camera, did not. "This was a daytime concert that seemed like a war zone with fireworks flying everywhere. porsche cayman 987 bodykit; efficiencies for rent in riverview, fl. go to da moon copy and paste. [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. Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis were on the bill, said Whitwam of their first performance at Garrett Coliseum. We played all the way through college, says Long. Fans also rushed to nominate their favorites when asked for feedback. 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. Whitwam, now in his 47th year playing music, is pleased with the makeup of their current audiences. He kicked it off with (what else?) Tommy James, of Tommy James and the Shondells, describing his appearance at the WBAM and WVOK Summer Shows in 1966 (from Me, the Mob and the Music). So many great City Stages performances: Chuck Berry (backed my some of Birmingham's finest), James Brown, Johnny Cash (right after Randy Newman! His current band, The Soul Crackas, does many of the same soul hits the Rockin Gibraltar performed. People would come night after night, said Lander, who owns Bama Lanes in Montgomery and Prattville. . Chuck Berry was an intro-act, great show he put on. 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.