nellson nutraceutical revenue; arlington catholic basketball roster; jack cawood and suzy hunt; lawn vacuum for acorns rental. Moody remembers the group mysteriously disappeared after one show and had to be retrieved to play their second gig (lead singer Peter Noone was known to enjoy a party.). And didn't ever explain to the people what had happened. blues show montgomery, al 2021. guildford school of acting auditions; gilroy google font alternative; cuisinart steamer insert; Blog Post Title February 26, 2018. They had easy backstage access, as well, and would confidently sashay throughout the venue. "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. There was this woman who was playing the bongos who literally passed out playing. December 3, 1955-As an extra Bonus..here's the advertisement for sister station WBAM, Montgomery, AL, when the very young Elvis Presley appeared. The most popular group, both Brennan brothers agree, was Hermans Hermits (see sidebar below). BB King's penultimate show at the Alabama (sitting but still playing and not drifting into non sequitur land). 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. (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). 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! They have reformed several times with different members, playing for Lee High School reunions. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Those two days in Alabama left a lasting impression on us because it was how we measured the rest of our gigs.. Garrett Coliseum Montgomery Concert Setlists City Montgomery, AL, United States Add Montgomery venue Address 1555 Federal Drive Montgomery, AL 36107 USA Opened 1963 Web Official Website Garrett Coliseum on Wikipedia Info Located at he Alabama Agricultural Center. The station's studios are . White guys playing soul music!, Most of the stuff we played was music you could easily dance to, said Dupree. "Cyril's idea was, 'Tell them to sing, just a little bit, and make sure that we get the right one.' Fans would mail their orders to the station, requesting a specific showtime, and the envelopes often included suggestions for artists they'd like to see. A real commercial from the 60's with announcer Bill J Moody .Exciting times as a teen.growing up in Montgomery. A license for the station was issued in 1952. It wasnt concerts where you played and 500 people sat down and listened to you. [Montgomery native and fellow Robert E. Lee graduate Tommy Shaw came back from Chicago to join the group, staying six months until getting a call to join Styx, who needed a replacement for a guitarist whod left as they were about to go on tour. 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. They actually were already signed to join, when Peace Concerts booked the January 31, 1975 show. 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. Cosmic Slop was classic, turned that mother out. Go to the Archives Inicio Quines somos? ", Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. The Who. The bands would come in cars -- just plain old cars -- and they'd get their guitars out and walk past you. Herman's Hermits in the studio, Barry Whitwam on drums. Reactions to these picks -- made by entertainment reporters Matt Wake, Lawrence Specker and Mary Colurso -- ranged from praise to anger, support to dismay. That was one of my first big gigs - the Big BAM shows! This doesn't even scratch the surface! ", 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." He kicked it off with (what else?) From Brian Willis: "Any of Alabama's June Jams. The Fabulous Shades It will be the first time theyve have been together since a reunion benefit at a local club in 2007. Bell. 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. . Packed house for a 1960s Big BAM Show at Garrett Coliseum. Or Nirvana at Boutwell in 1993?Or Roger McGuinn at Merrimack Hall in 2014? "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?' Paul Revere & the Raiders. "Little Feat at Boutwell mid 70s. "It was rewarding, because people seemed to respond to some of the things I was doing. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. We were considered the number one soul band in the south. They didn't come to hear me; they came to hear the Rolling Stones.'". ", From StolibGeezer: "Zevon played the Alabama twice. Its magic, said Beavers. That way I could see the stars and hear the music better. "Bill" Brennan, Billy Benns (Jr.) and Mrs. Luella B. Aldridge. Then another. Respi Mee Sup Sabahiiat. I was very happy with doing the work I did. Id never seen anybody get an audience so excited, Dan Brennan remembered. Best Review Site for Digital Cameras. "One of the the things we had to do, in order to provide bathroom facilities for all of the artists, we had a bunch of RVs, recreation vehicles, and they were all over the field out there," Brennan says. "That was before he became very big. ", From Cobb: "Buckingham Nicks in Morgan Auditorium Tuscaloosa Alabama Fall 1973.". Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. I told Jimbo we should all come in with walkers, laughed Beavers. He recalls the popular hangouts for older teens and the legendary "Big Bam Shows" of the period. "Bill" Brennan, one of the owners of The Big Bam, Montgomery's renowned 50,000-watt radio station. ), "I remember we used to have people come out to our station on the Bessemer Superhighway," Brennan says, "and they would tell us that our transmitter -- we had a 50-kilowatt transmitter, and it was pretty close to their homes -- and they said, 'Well, I'm picking you up on my coffeepot.'". It gave them a voice. 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. 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. We put on a heck of a show, said Grier. Tickets to these shows were typically $3 to $4. December 24, 1958: Jerry Lee Lewis ; December 12, 1959: Fabian, The Fleetwoods, The Browns, Floyd Robinson and Bobby Lee Trammell ", From rtrmark: "Alice Cooper. ", "Leo Kottke, Foster Auditorium, UA campus, about 1974," said 57939names. I said, 'Elvis, I'm sorry, but we can't accommodate you, because it is his show.' 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.. We were all so nervous we wore dark sunglasses so nobody could see how scared we were, said Dupree. In Birmingham, we know of only one man who's had the honor: Dan Brennan, a former radio host, station manager, concert promoter and prime moverat WVOK-AM. Louise Brennan, Cyril's wife, at the Beatles' press conference in Jacksonville. ", 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." It was electric. Other notable former personalities included Bill J. Moody, Paul Simpkins, Mark Robbins, Gene Hocutt and Joe Cook. (The Beatles' popularity in the U.S. exploded in 1964, and that year's tour was a watershed moment for the band.). Roy Orbis. "It was quite a thing.". My personal favorite concert of all times was Billy Joel at the BJCC Concert Hall. And so he gave them -- the only show in the whole country that did this -- we gave them a flat $50,000, which was pretty good in those days. ", From Will-I: "Bruce Springsteen in Auburn in 1975. Make Favorite Store Contact 1957 Cobbs Ford Rd. The primary reason for the shows was to keep a personal relationship with the listeners, said Dan Brennan, 81, former general manager at WVOK. The Fabulous Shades, 1965. Her harmonies with Eddie and Jimbo were legendary, and thus the group found its new name. 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. The band's management initially asked for 85 percent of the ticket proceeds or $25,000, whichever was greater, Brennan says. snapchat chat bitmoji peeking. This was the last concert they did before going back to LA and joining the band Fleetwood Mac. 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. Ticket prices were $2 for shows in the early 1960s, gradually increasing to a top price of $5.50, a pittance by todays standards. ", "This is so subjective and there are way too many to pick from. Brennanleft the radio business for good in 1982. Whitwam remembers little of that show, but subsequent performances are crystal clear. . Music you could dance to "One of my favorites was RUSH 1981 Mobile Municipal Auditorium," said tgfmiss. 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. For this little kid from Wetumpka, that was a big, big deal, he said. J Jackie Culpepper 662 followers More information WBAM Big Bam Shows Remembered Record Case Montgomery Growing Up 60s Old Things Teen Memories Remember Videos The Louvin Brothers. WMSP (740 AM, Sports Radio 740) is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, USA. Saw them at the University of Alabama home coming in 1978 as well. This book takes a thought-provoking, even-handed look at those days from the perspective of a typical white kid growing up in Montgomery during that . Herman's Hermits. 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.. ", From cj75: "Grateful Dead, 5/17/77 in Tuscaloosa. 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. April 8, 1967: State Coliseum, Montgomery, AL with Electric Prunes, Buckinghams, Lou Christie, Brian Hyland and The Jokers, Tommy James and The Shondells, Royal Guardsmen, The Blues Magoos, The Casinos and others "WBAM presents Big Bam All-Star Spring Show" April 14, 1967: University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA with Freudian Slip Via a longstanding partnership with the Benns family, the Brennans also extended theirreach to Chattanooga, the home of WFLI-AM. Neither Tommy Shaw nor Beth Nielsen Chapman will be on hand due to their schedules. "It cost enough that we were lucky to come out with just enough and break even with it," Brennan says. Memorial Coliseum, now known as Coleman Coliseum. THE PROMOTIONAL POSTER OF THE WBAM, BIG BAM WINTER SPECTACULAR, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1967! Some of the items will go on exhibit starting Thursday at the Alabama. Hank Williams was another frequent live on-air performer. We played all the way through college, says Long. Elvis Presley. It was a real happening thing.. "Best concert I caught in this state was at Memorial Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1978 Lowell George and Little Feat. Rare Earth. 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. That radio station had its concerts, too, dubbedJet-Fli Spectaculars, at the Soldiers &Sailors Memorial Auditorium. "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. 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. We didn't make any money.". 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. We made $100, remembers Grier. We get young people, folks our age, and older folks, he said proudly. Rich Thomas Weather. Members: Original members Larry Hoyle, Johnny Hassett and Ron Howard, plus Chris Seymour, Johnny Long, Jr. and Craig Young. "You didn't have to know anything about guitar to realize that he was one of the best ever to take the stage. These are just a few of the acts presentedby the Brennans during the 1950s, '60s and early '70s. 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. He wanted us to sign a management contract with him, but we were still under contract with Marshall and . Two years later WBAM went country and the station was later sold. ", Jerry Tavin/Photo courtesy of Everett Collection, From mcarter3: "Uhh. Where's Jimi Hendrix's concert at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1969? Dylan with Brian Setzer Orchestra opening (about 1998 ?). The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC I just went to the Coliseum for the music. A recent Skype video call to his U.K. home found Whitwam fondly remembering the Hermits Big BAM Show performances. "In those days, you could go to a concert and there was only one back door. Thousands of Beatles fans were ready to twist and shout in the Southeast, and the Brennan clan had made it happen. I never chased the stars around to hotels or anything. Grier continued to sing with trios and orchestras, performing at wedding receptions and private parties. There was a little jealousy there.". 1984 at the BJCC. 0. blues show montgomery, al 2021. Any of the Yes shows in Birmingham! truly historic happening. 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. Jerry Lee Lewis hristie Lou C. Paul Revere & the Raiders . 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. K Jamie Carter Childhood Toys Childhood Memories Camille Redouble Sheila E 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 Righteous Brothers. ", The Birmingham News file photo/Philip Barr. Submit a request Contact us through a specially prepared form. 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. I'll never forget it. 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. Dan Brennan recalls the reaction from performers. Gobs of people have asked us when were going to do another reunion. 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. Though theyve had other jobs over the years, neither Jones nor Beavers have stopped playing music. "I didn't stay up there too long," Brennan says, laughing. ", From Ken Cole: "I was at Jerry Lee Lewis in Boutwell in the mid '60s when I was a kid. For fans, half the fun was trying for a glimpse of the stars at their hotel or coming to and from the coliseum. "Me and my girlfriends would get up at -- holy moly, 6 a.m. -- and get there long before the show ever started," said Connie Peek, a former Shower of Stars regular, during a 2003 interview with The Birmingham News. Montgomery's home for country music favorites like Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert . The chips were glued into Dianes scrap book between photos of the Beatles. The show is a spin-off from MTV 's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast appeared. The original investors in the company were William J. ", From bamamaam: "What about the lynyrd skynyrd concert at rickwood field in the '70's.? While Gator Bowl officials relented to a desegregated audience for the concert, two other venues Epstein had chosen were problematic. Its better than not being remembered at all.. People came from several states to see these shows. WBAM-FM/98.9 ("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. 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. the tall man aboriginal spirit; metadata api request failed: component conversion failed: file_ended; caleb foote sandlot She remembers her father's words with startling clarity, along with the thrill she experiencedwhile sitting in the front row. But theres not a whole lot of money because theres no place for them to play. The Lovin' Spoonful. "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. We were the opening act and it was the biggest crowd we had ever played before, nearly 30,000 people. 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. ", All three Brennan brothers were ambitious businessmen who worked as a team. 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. Flintstone House. JLL put on a hell of a show also. The Byrds. It was elbow to elbow in there, remembered drummer Tommy Beavers. 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. "Two guitars and a stool. Iron Butterfly. Clayton, Hayward and Gradney. 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. I remember some of them telling us they came to every show that whole year.". Jerry Lee Lewis, the Brennans said. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. ", From Shapeshiftinhmojo: "Jimi Hendrix played Alabama twice in both Tuscaloosa and Auburn in 1968 or 69. "Radio played the song every twenty minutes. It was the most important thing in our lives. The Beatles in Alabama? I said, 'Well, you've got a choice here. It was great! Wed ask them, Who would you like to see? Then wed select artists for the shows from this listener input.. Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning to sports talk under the WMSP callsign in 1995. Lou Christie was huge in Montgomery. 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. (His moniker on the air: Dan the Music Man. Published by at February 16, 2022. "I'm so. I don't know, I guess people got to trust us. Hello? Although he admits to anoccasional pang of longing, looking back on his previouscareer, Brennan is far from retired. "I don't have any regrets," hesays. HOW COME PAUL GODDARD PUSHES HIS GLASSES UP THE BRIDGE OF HIS NOSE? . At this point, Mick Jagger and his pals were poised to release"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," their first international smash. Big Bam All-Star Spring Show Setlists Apr 8 1967 Date Saturday, April 8, 1967 Venue Garrett Coliseum, Montgomery, AL, USA So far there are setlists of 9 gigs Saturday, April 8, 1967 Garrett Coliseum, Montgomery, AL Blues Magoos Brian Hyland Lou Christie The Buckinghams The Casinos The Electric Prunes The Royal Guardsmen The Turtles Capital Cool. He was lead singer of the Rockin Gibraltars, formed in 1965 by a group of students at Lee High School. From Denniswingo: "Was there! Sweet Young Uns One of the best concerts ever for Blues in Birmingham. 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. They would buy so many tickets in advance, we didn't have to worry about whether they were going to come or not.". Lowell George in his prime," says Bingothatwuzagoody. 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. They played at YMCAs, American Legion halls, private parties, and dances all over south Alabama, Panama City, Savannah, and Greenville, Miss. Its amazing the life we got to live.. (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). If you have one, it's going to be way down the other part of the field.' According to Ben Flanagan's story for AL.com, the band also played in Tuscaloosa at Memorial Coliseum, now Coleman Coliseum. 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. WMSP is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, United States. The Beach Boys. "Fairgrounds Bham. Thanks to Donnie Brennan for the Elvis photos. 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. The wildest thing other than the Troggs rocking out to "Wild Thing" and whipping around long dirty hanks of British hair was Lou Christie. 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 .
big bam shows montgomery, alabama