Her harmonies with Eddie and Jimbo were legendary, and thus the group found its new name. He didn't insist onphotos. K Jamie Carter Childhood Toys Childhood Memories Camille Redouble Sheila E 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. His clothes were all rumpled, and he said, 'Dan, I need to go on later in the show. The capsule was opened during a ceremony December 3, but a complete list of its contents were not released at the time. I'll never forget it. Map of Alabama State, USA - Nations Online Project He even did about 30 seconds of Sweet Home Alabama (that was before that song was worn out). ", From Will-I: "Bruce Springsteen in Auburn in 1975. "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. For Alabama radio pioneer, life was a Shower of Stars He also helped to choose and line up some of the concert talent. As a result, Captain and Tennille declined ABC's offer to do a second season. "Excuse me---did I miss the ROLLING STONES STEEL WHEELS TOUR??????????????????" big bam shows montgomery, alabamasmart search field in safari. 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. Jimbo Jones (L) and Tommy Beavers look forward to the reunion of Harmony. In Brennan's view, that's a satisfying legacy. 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. 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. The primary reason for the shows was to keep a personal relationship with the listeners, said Dan Brennan, 81, former general manager at WVOK. Both stations played Top 40 hits of the day, and the concerts were the Brennans gifts to a loyal radio audience. The Beatles in Alabama? ", From TTownTony: "You cannot even imagine the concerts played in Tuscaloosa before the BJCC was built. big bam shows montgomery, alabama - dialectic.solutions "Bill" Brennan, Billy Benns (Jr.) and Mrs. Luella B. Aldridge. "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. Music you could dance to We occasionally wouldn't fill all three seatings in Birmingham, but I don't think we ever had one that was less than about 70 percent full, with all three together. Toni loved doing the show, but Daryl, who never enjoyed being on camera, did not. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. For fans, half the fun was trying for a glimpse of the stars at their hotel or coming to and from the coliseum. The Four Seasons. The Rockin' Gibraltars, Montgomery, 1960s. Pin on The Old Record Case - pinterest.com Pitiful (Otis Redding) sound so much better with real horns.. 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. It made me feel good in a way, he said. Prattville, Alabama 36066 (334) 358-9460 View Weekly Ad Hours Store Services Full Furniture with Mattresses Furniture Leasing Furniture Delivery Milk, Eggs & Grocery Featured Be a Backyard Bigionaire! Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning to sports talk under the WMSP callsign in 1995. After helping escort her safely away from an unruly crowd, she rewarded him with a big kiss. 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. We put on a heck of a show, said Grier. I said, 'Cyril, what do you think we ought to do?' Still, for radio listeners who tuned into WVOK back in the day, Brennan will always be Dan the Music Man. The Rockin' Rebellions won top honors - beating out 67 other bands from throughout Alabama. Peter (Asher) and Gordon (Waller), Big BAM Show. For more, visit Rich's YouTube Channel . We stayed at the same hotel as them. It was a clear channel station that covered over 90 counties in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, and could be heard everywhere. Published by at February 16, 2022. REENADED . Tommy James Interview: Singer Discusses His Autobiography 'Me, the Mob He recalls the popular hangouts for older teens and the legendary "Big Bam Shows" of the period. Reactions to these picks -- made by entertainment reporters Matt Wake, Lawrence Specker and Mary Colurso -- ranged from praise to anger, support to dismay. Bell. Big Bam All-Star Spring Show Setlists | setlist.fm There were a lot of fun people.. 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. Hes been a school principal and now sells wholesale art, although business has been suffering due to the economy. The Rockin' Rebellions | Birmingham Record Collectors The Quad show was FREE! "The level of excitement was unbelievable," Bartoletti says. White guys playing soul music!, Most of the stuff we played was music you could easily dance to, said Dupree. 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. "Hendrix, Joplin, the Who, Elvis, Dylan all played in Tuscaloosa," said Jeremy Don McCollough. So we had another beer. Show Duplicate for Mar 22, 2013: Mar 08, 2013 Justin Moore: Garrett Coliseum: Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that is rarely revealed within the pages of history texts. We'll have to ask him. They actually were already signed to join, when Peace Concerts booked the January 31, 1975 show. 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 . Whitwam remembers little of that show, but subsequent performances are crystal clear. At this point, Mick Jagger and his pals were poised to release"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," their first international smash. It wasnt concerts where you played and 500 people sat down and listened to you. Once solo and once with a band. "My late husband was owner of Peace Concerts, he brought hundreds of concerts to Birmingham, all over Alabama and southeast from 1970-1975," said Shari Graye. ", From dassani: "I was there Could not have been better! THE 5 BEST Upcoming Concerts & Shows in Montgomery - Tripadvisor ", From Shapeshiftinhmojo: "Jimi Hendrix played Alabama twice in both Tuscaloosa and Auburn in 1968 or 69. Dislike Share. 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. The resulting concerts -- which evolved into a series called the WVOK Shower of Stars in Birmingham, the Big BAM shows in Montgomery and the Big APE Convention in Jacksonville -- became enormously popular with radio listeners. 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 . Anybody else remember seeing Joplin in Tuscaloosa? 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. I was very happy with doing the work I did. 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. . snapchat chat bitmoji peeking. ", From ghostreader: "Springsteen, mobile civic center theater may 1976. ", From REDSEA: "While I was going to UNA back in 81, I worked on the Stage Crew on these concerts at UNA: Atlanta Rhythm Section (pictured), Jimmy Buffett, Tom Petty, Hotel, Crystal Gale. Brennan, now 86, introduced the Beatles at the Gator Bowlin Jacksonville, Fla., when the Fab Four played there on Sept. 11, 1964. TheRolling Stones were closing the gap quickly, though, with a tougher, bluesier songbook that included "The Last Time," "Play With Fire" and "Time Is On My Side." Iron Butterfly. "Radio played the song every twenty minutes. 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. They have reformed several times with different members, playing for Lee High School reunions. Hal Hodgens of WVOK is second from left. 1973(?). "(Listeners) would tell us what they liked and didn't like. Alicia Mcleod - Vocals - Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Cosmic Slop was classic, turned that mother out. 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. Garrett Coliseum, in contrast, could hold 10,000+ for a single performance in Montgomery. The Show That Almost Happened That way I could see the stars and hear the music better. Alabama | Garage Hangover FACIAL. One was the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama, which was to host a concert on September 10 th. When was the last concert at Big Bam Fall Spectacular? It was the most important thing in our lives. pigella miraculous ladybug power. Formed: 1972, Tuscaloosa. We do everything from Jerry Jeff Walker to the Grateful Dead to Van Morrison, says Pappas. Id never seen anybody get an audience so excited, Dan Brennan remembered. The most popular group, both Brennan brothers agree, was Hermans Hermits (see sidebar below). 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? 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 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. 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. Though theyve had other jobs over the years, neither Jones nor Beavers have stopped playing music. But he's sure the introduction was brief, wasting no time as Beatlemania raged. Music of a Generation: Big BAM Shows | Prime Montgomery He would tear up the piano, Moody said, We couldnt find anyone to provide a piano, but he would put on a show. "Put You Down" was written by lead guitarist Max Kendrick and vocalist Rich Gainer. He wants to go on late in the show.' Despite her young age -- she was 7 that year -- Bartoletti felt another emotion at the Gator Bowl: extreme pride. A real commercial from the 60's with announcer Bill J Moody .Exciting times as a teen.growing up in Montgomery. Montgomery, AL | Data USA ", From UABMBA: "One of the greatest concerts in Alabama was The Rolling Stones with Chuck Berry at Auburn Memorial Coliseum, November 14, 1969. Only concert I have ever been to where they had tee shirts for the guitarist in the band along with the band's shirts. "I didn't stay up there too long," Brennan says, laughing. If it's all right with him, it's all right with me. "Tuscaloosa Memorial Coliseum 1972," said Randy Palmer. One of the Beach Boys told me it was the biggest talent show hed ever been in!. Shop Now We were waiting at the Holiday Inn, in the bar at the hotel having a beer. And they accepted it, but we did get the total amount of the gate that came in. Bob Brennen gave me these. to see more entries, Posted on November 1, 2011 by bob in Features. Louise Brennan, Cyril's wife, at the Beatles' press conference in Jacksonville. "I felt that I was lucky to be able to have the kind of job I had," Brennan says. 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 concert series started around 1960 with such stars as Fabian and Brenda Lee. Contact - Bama Country 98.9 - WBAM They agreed to do it, but they were on one end of it, and the Beach Boys were on the other end of it. Big Bam Fall Spectacular has had 1 concert. big bam shows montgomery, alabama - cirujanoplasticoleon.com The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC. Local garage bands (they practiced in their parents garages or living rooms) were found in almost every town in the United States in the mid-to late 60s, and the Montgomery area was no exception. 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 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. J. Frank Wilson, and The Webs. 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. . The Other Side of Montgomery - Google Books Tickets to these shows were typically $3 to $4. Props. It would be tough going back to ballrooms and small clubs after this. Go to the Archives From 1963 to 73 the Big BAM shows and their counterpart in Birmingham, the Shower of Stars shows, presented four concerts a year. "We all felt very privileged," Bartoletti says. Thats not to say Montgomery area favorite bands cant be seen any more. 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. to see more entries, Posted on June 1, 2011 by bob in Features. Procedimientos. When Peter Noone left Hermans Hermits in 1971, Hermits drummer Barry Whitwam keep going, and today continues to lead his own Hermans Hermits band (as does Noone performing as Hermans Hermits starring Peter Noone). The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC. ", From bamamaam: "What about the lynyrd skynyrd concert at rickwood field in the '70's.? 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. 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. "Lynyrd Skynyrd, after Montrose featuring Sammy Hagar July 4th, 1975 at Rickwood Field," said Bamabadger62. The Animals. Performers would play to more than 10,000 at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery Friday night (for Tommy James in 1967 it just seemed like 30,000), then pack-up and play three shows in Birmingham on Saturday. 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. The station's studios are . Blue arcs of electricity knocked him unconscious and the show ended 15 minutes early. Clapton! We enjoyed all the years we spent in radio, said Dan Brennan, who now owns a video production company in Birmingham. I think he could call his own shots.". Now sales manager for a Dothan radio station, Moody fondly remembers working as a teenager at a 1959 WBAM concert featuring singer Connie Francis. 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. We'd be there from the crack of dawn until midnight. You are free to use the above map for educational and similar purposes; if you publish it online or in print . Hank Williams was another frequent live on-air performer. In one fell swoop, he was in hot demand. Things changed a little bit after that. "I'm so. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. We were considered the number one soul band in the south. I always was impressed about how well the bands performed when they were live, even though the Coliseum acoustics werent so good.. ", 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. 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. The Other Side of Montgomery: Growing Up White in the Birthplace of the The father of six and grandfather of two currently lives in Montgomery and plays with the Bama Breeze Band. 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. It was a real happening thing.. The band also played Birmingham in May 1977, according to this story by Madison Underwood. Chuck Berry was awesome and the Stones in their early days were unbelievable.". 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, Sonny was interested Cher's friend, not her. One of its earliest Big BAM Shows featured Elvis Presley as he ascended to fame, on the same bill with Roy Acuff. Yes, the Beatles' performance was "a really big show," as Ed Sullivan wouldhave said. 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. I just went to the Coliseum for the music. 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. Members: Original members Larry Hoyle, Johnny Hassett and Ron Howard, plus Chris Seymour, Johnny Long, Jr. and Craig Young. Mountain 1971," said Billy Bromberg. Brennan also remembers that Starr requested reinforcements to the stage area near his drum kit, because strong gusts lingered after the hurricane. MEMORABLE SLOGANS | Page 2 | RadioDiscussions (In 1965, Legion Field could seat more than 68,000 people.) "It was rewarding, because people seemed to respond to some of the things I was doing. Wed go all over, even the Old Dutch in Panama City.. WVOK Shower of Stars | Flickr J Jackie Culpepper 662 followers More information WBAM Big Bam Shows Remembered Record Case Montgomery Growing Up 60s Old Things Teen Memories Remember Videos 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). 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. Gate Band But Lewis went over his allotted time. Memorial Coliseum, now known as Coleman Coliseum. Big Bam Show - Newspapers.com "This was a daytime concert that seemed like a war zone with fireworks flying everywhere. JLL put on a hell of a show also. George Harrison is behind Dan on the left, John Lennon on the right. We were the opening act and it was the biggest crowd we had ever played before, nearly 30,000 people. Jerry Lee Lewis hristie Lou C. Paul Revere & the Raiders . 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. 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. Although he admits to anoccasional pang of longing, looking back on his previouscareer, Brennan is far from retired. The venue? We didnt play where people sat around and drank. This was the last concert they did before going back to LA and joining the band Fleetwood Mac. The only multiple-act show in the country similar to what the Brennans offered were those produced by Dick Clark. Rare Earth. "We gave everybody who came a free rain parka. Its better than not being remembered at all.. Sonny Grier is another longtime Montgomery band member who still plays music. His family owned WBAM in Montgomery, and WVOK in Birmingham, both 50,000 watt clear channels stations back in the day. Montgomery's home for country music favorites like Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert . Patsy Cline Performs Her Final Show Country Music Memories; Most Wanted Music: 2023's Country and Americana Album Releases; Follow Us. Tickets were priced at$1.50-$5.50 per show, Brennan says, and artists' fees usually ran about $300-$7,500 per act. Emerson, Lake and Palmer in QUAD sound - Tuscaloosa circa 1973. ", "Rolling Stones in Auburn '69," said James Robert Chambless. There are still a lot of local bands out there, said Sonny Grier, lead singer with the Rockin Gibraltars. Were a dance band.. December 24, 1958: Jerry Lee Lewis ; December 12, 1959: Fabian, The Fleetwoods, The Browns, Floyd Robinson and Bobby Lee Trammell Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. They moved to LA, minus Grier whod gotten married and had a new baby and didnt want to move. Those two days in Alabama left a lasting impression on us because it was how we measured the rest of our gigs.. 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). ", From estevev: "Of the ones I attended, the most memorable ones were -- Ike and Tina Turner Review, Plush Horse, (1974? Readers shared fond memories of June Jam, the annual music festival that ran 1982-1997. Go to the Archives big bam shows montgomery, alabama - mmischools.com While Gator Bowl officials relented to a desegregated audience for the concert, two other venues Epstein had chosen were problematic. I was blown away. Many regulars from the Kove days brought their grown children and will likely do so again. I told Jimbo we should all come in with walkers, laughed Beavers. Herman's Hermits in the studio, Barry Whitwam on drums. It is amazing to think that was 41 years ago. ", Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. His current band, The Soul Crackas, does many of the same soul hits the Rockin Gibraltar performed. 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. Big Bam Show . Montgomery | Garage Hangover The entire show was magic, beginning with The Stranger and of course included many of the unknown Joel early songs. The Big Bam shows in Montgomery were on my list," said Jack Boles. Several members still play in other bands for private parties, or solo at local restaurants, and on June 9, several members of Harmony plan a reunion show at the Blue Iguana in Prattville. The Rogues recorded the 45 in February of 1966, for MBM Records, a Birmingham, Alabama label that goes back to the early '60s. 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. Top (l-r), Keith Brewer, Ed Sanford and Sonny Grier. "My brother, he was always a little bit of a gambler," Brennan says. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Most of the clubs have gone to a single performer, or a duo or karaoke. Date:Sun, 5 Jun 2005 09:12:45 -0400 I'll tell you a story about that WBAM show in Montgomery. "I'm also a little partial to Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Jerry Reed, Johnny Paycheck, when they played at Old York Farms in the late '90s," said Jeremy Don McCollough. Bobby Darin. Paul Revere & the Raiders. ", From cj75: "Grateful Dead, 5/17/77 in Tuscaloosa. Ticket prices were never more expensive than $4.00. Clayton, Hayward and Gradney. big bam shows montgomery, alabama We would skip class and work setting up the stages for free admission and backstage passes. Her very own father was on stage, standing closeto four of the most famous musicians in the world. "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?' They enjoy reminiscing about the stars, the shows and the fans who made it possible. HOW COME PAUL GODDARD PUSHES HIS GLASSES UP THE BRIDGE OF HIS NOSE? ", From rtrmark: "Alice Cooper. WBAM was a powerhouse at 50,000 watts, covering much of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.From its earliest days, WBAM put on concerts for the Montgomery area. ", "I'm also inclined to mention 1982 at Boutwell when the Blizzard of Ozz played; Randy Rhoades' third to last appearance before his tragic death," said GmanGent. 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.
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