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I didn't stay afterwards, but my friends who did said that he stood in the lobby as long as anyone was there greeting fans and talking about world hunger. The mothership landed in the BJCC that night. I remember some of them telling us they came to every show that whole year.". Still, for radio listeners who tuned into WVOK back in the day, Brennan will always be Dan the Music Man. Though theyve had other jobs over the years, neither Jones nor Beavers have stopped playing music. Only concert I have ever been to where they had tee shirts for the guitarist in the band along with the band's shirts. The football stadiumposed a few extra challenges, Brennan says, from seating assignments to sound quality to weather preparation. BB King's penultimate show at the Alabama (sitting but still playing and not drifting into non sequitur land). It was a hold out because they had missed a previous show in May of 1974. Keith Richards was almost electrocuted when his guitar grounded on a mic. Two years later WBAM went country and the station was later sold. Were a dance band.. big bam shows montgomery, alabamasmart search field in safari. 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. Steve Lander, who originally booked Harvest at the Kove in 1975, has offered the Blue Iguana free for the night. Members: Mitch Alton (original member), Gregg Pappas, Ham Wilson, Bill Marshall , Dwight Williams, Rick Byrd, Orville Cain, Carl Tesh. to see more entries, Posted on June 1, 2011 by bob in Features. From what we can tell, she appeared there in 1970, but the story mentions Dec. 3, 1970, as the date of her show. "I don't have any regrets," hesays. ", Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. The concert series started around 1960 with such stars as Fabian and Brenda Lee. When I got on stage the drum kit seat was way too high. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that. There was always so much excitement surrounding the shows, Knapp said. Procedimientos. The only multiple-act show in the country similar to what the Brennans offered were those produced by Dick Clark. 2. 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. Thousands of Beatles fans were ready to twist and shout in the Southeast, and the Brennan clan had made it happen. . 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! The Big BAM was WBAM, the 50,000-watt AM radio station owned by the Brennan family, whose other Alabama station was Birminghams WVOK. $14 million dollar house maine; Peter (Asher) and Gordon (Waller), Big BAM Show. This was the last concert they did before going back to LA and joining the band Fleetwood Mac. "Lynyrd Skynyrd, after Montrose featuring Sammy Hagar July 4th, 1975 at Rickwood Field," said Bamabadger62. Alicia McLeod - Vocals. He doesnt keep up with Johnny Townsend, but remains friends with Rusty Crumpton and Ed Sanford, who is a successful artist in Los Angeles. ", "This is so subjective and there are way too many to pick from. Emerson, Lake and Palmer in QUAD sound - Tuscaloosa circa 1973. "Ringo said, 'I'm not getting up there unless you build me a bannister around this thing.' Now sales manager for a Dothan radio station, Moody fondly remembers working as a teenager at a 1959 WBAM concert featuring singer Connie Francis. For more, visit Rich's YouTube Channel . The Animals. "This was a daytime concert that seemed like a war zone with fireworks flying everywhere. One of its earliest Big BAM Shows featured Elvis Presley as he ascended to fame, on the same bill with Roy Acuff. The stage was an immense rectangle glutted with scaffolding and hundreds of klieg lights and a sound system on a board that looked like the skyline of New York at night. Their big prize was three VOX . The Who played there. I've seen so many good shows in Birmingham over the years! 'I did it my way.'". They played at YMCAs, American Legion halls, private parties, and dances all over south Alabama, Panama City, Savannah, and Greenville, Miss. Skynnard (not really a fan) opening for Wet Willie - 1972-73(?). Ticket prices were $2 for shows in the early 1960s, gradually increasing to a top price of $5.50, a pittance by todays standards. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. ", From David Hester: "Eagles at Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville in 1975. 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. Brennan also remembers that Starr requested reinforcements to the stage area near his drum kit, because strong gusts lingered after the hurricane. Its magic, said Beavers. I was very happy with doing the work I did. "We'd camp out at the door, on the steps and wait. The Temptations and The Supremes, The TCB Tour, Auburn University, 1972. "We gave everybody who came a free rain parka. "Fairgrounds Bham. Go to the Archives 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. 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. Both stations played Top 40 hits of the day, and the concerts were the Brennans' gifts to a loyal radio audience. "I'm so old. Jerry Lee Lewis, the Brennans said. He showed up about five minutes before his show was to go on. As Brennan recalls it, the Beach Boys were paid $7,500 for their performance, and the Rolling Stones received $5,000. Elton John played three different years and drew over 40,000 total. Or Nirvana at Boutwell in 1993?Or Roger McGuinn at Merrimack Hall in 2014? Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. After the Beatles press conference, where the Fab Four were munching on potato chips, Diane Brennan, daughter of Cyril and Louise, grabbed the partially consumed shards in fear that her sister Donnie would eat them. The Fabulous Shades In most cases, the concertswere multi-act affairs, featuring the hottest names the radio stations could secure. nellson nutraceutical revenue; arlington catholic basketball roster; jack cawood and suzy hunt; lawn vacuum for acorns rental. So I went out and introduced Bobby Edwards, and he sang songs, and I came back about half an hour later, and I said, 'Now, here's Bobby Edwards!' "Little Feat at Boutwell mid 70s. Gary Puckett & the Union Gap. A license for the station was issued in 1952. ", Jerry Tavin/Photo courtesy of Everett Collection, From mcarter3: "Uhh. Where's Jimi Hendrix's concert at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1969? The Beach Boys. It gave them a voice. Springsteen played the 'short end' of the the Beard-Eaves with the curtain up. "We all felt very privileged," Bartoletti says. A memorable night that I won't ever forget. All who attended the big September 19th show must present ticket stub at gate between 12 noon and 1PM. 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 . ", 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. Alabama State Coliseum (1951-1963) Garrett Coliseum (1963-) Oct 5 2019 Anybody else remember seeing Joplin in Tuscaloosa? 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. 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. With the help of Bill Moody and Cyril Brennan at WBAM, their music was played on the 100,000-watt radio station, helping the group built a following as an R&B band. The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC. I kept going to at least one show a year through about 1968, he said. . ", 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. Deep South Broadcasting was the licensee of WBAM-AM, 740 kc with 50,000 watts daytime in Montgomery. By nature, talent and inclination, Brennanwasentirely suited to the family business; thousands of fans knew his voice and remembered his name. They didn't come to hear me; they came to hear the Rolling Stones.'". "One of my favorites was RUSH 1981 Mobile Municipal Auditorium," said tgfmiss. "I didn't stay up there too long," Brennan says, laughing. Both Shaw and Chapman have gone on to stardom as performers and songwriters.]. 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. ); 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). I'm sure they were totally confused.". Carl Perkins. At least 25 people tried to jump the stage during the concert and were knocked backward into the crowd by gigantic stage bouncers! "We had a room set up at our house that had little cubbyholes, like a post office has, and Clara would be back there, stuffing these envelopes, and getting the tickets," Brennan says. ", From Ken Cole: "I was at Jerry Lee Lewis in Boutwell in the mid '60s when I was a kid. Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning "What's that Frank Sinatra song? During a recent show some ladies, obviously a few years older than him, recognized Grier from the early Gibraltar days. Iron Butterfly. I only have these pictures of all the concerts we attended from the early 1960's to late 1960's. This one in 1969, was probably the last one I attended. Fees for the other acts were in the $300-$400 range, he says. It was just the coolest thing.". WMSP (740 AM, Sports Radio 740) is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, USA. Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning to sports talk under the WMSP callsign in 1995. It was a clear channel station that covered over 90 counties in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, and could be heard everywhere. Men. Make Favorite Store Contact 1957 Cobbs Ford Rd. Memorial Coliseum, now known as Coleman Coliseum. They responded, swiftly and passionately, to a recent post listing 31 of the greatest shows at venues throughout the state. Which concerts will go down in history at Alabama music venues? Brother Cyril Brennan, 84, was alternately chief engineer, manager, program director and music director at WBAM and also involved in lining up talent. I said, 'Cyril, what do you think we ought to do?' "It cost enough that we were lucky to come out with just enough and break even with it," Brennan says. The Young Rascals. In the spring of 1968, we played the Big Bam Spring show in Montgomery and were seen by a producer from Hollywood named Bob Hinkle. She came back a few minutes later and absolutely blasted a massive bongo solo. We get young people, folks our age, and older folks, he said proudly. 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. If it's all right with him, it's all right with me. "Radio played the song every twenty minutes. He would tear up the piano, Moody said, We couldnt find anyone to provide a piano, but he would put on a show. By today's standards, his solution to the latter problemseems charmingly old-school. 6 places sorted by traveler favorites Clear all filters 1. "Bill" Brennan, one of the owners of The Big Bam, Montgomery's renowned 50,000-watt radio station. Joni Mitchell at Tuscaloosa 1975 would be third," said jarobertson. 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. Brennan, now 86, introduced the Beatles at the Gator Bowlin Jacksonville, Fla., when the Fab Four played there on Sept. 11, 1964. View the Full Page. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Uploaded 11 years ago Music 4; Photos 0; Interview . The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. His clothes were all rumpled, and he said, 'Dan, I need to go on later in the show. Montgomery resident Mike Vickery remembers getting a friends mother to drive him and others to the WBAM station to get tickets as soon as they went on sale so we could get them near the front on the floor. On one occasion, he accompanied some female friends to the Diplomat Inn where they spotted Lou Christie sitting by the pool, a secret one of them has never told her mother to this day.. 1984 at the BJCC. That way I could see the stars and hear the music better. 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 was Municipal Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, where a show had been set for September 15 th. They have reformed several times with different members, playing for Lee High School reunions. The Brennan kids were popular during the concert years, as you might expect, and Bartoletti says she, her four siblings and her cousins were fixtures at the WVOK shows, seated in the front row. Rare Earth. They had easy backstage access, as well, and would confidently sashay throughout the venue. Yet. How many people have been able to say this at a concert, facing a roaring crowd? Big Bam All-Star Spring Show Setlists Apr 8 1967 Date Saturday, April 8, 1967 Venue Garrett Coliseum, Montgomery, AL, USA Report festival So far there are setlists of 9 gigs. Other notable former personalities included Bill J. Moody, Paul Simpkins, Mark Robbins, Gene Hocutt and Joe Cook. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). The . We played all the way through college, says Long. to see more entries, Posted on November 1, 2011 by bob in Features. ", "Leo Kottke, Foster Auditorium, UA campus, about 1974," said 57939names. By the time we got to the steps of the BJCC a guy had a shoebox full of tickets that he was trying to sell for a buck each. DMX. These are just a few of the acts presentedby the Brennans during the 1950s, '60s and early '70s. ", From Cobb: "Buckingham Nicks in Morgan Auditorium Tuscaloosa Alabama Fall 1973.". 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. 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. Add the extra costs associated with security guards and insurance, and hiring bands is not a profitable option for many club owners. When was the last concert at Big Bam Fall Spectacular? But it never happened. I have such fond memories of coming to Alabama. "Two guitars and a stool. 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. George Harrison is behind Dan on the left, John Lennon on the right. 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.. Dan Brennan recalls the reaction from performers. 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. The Rogues recorded the 45 in February of 1966, for MBM Records, a Birmingham, Alabama label that goes back to the early '60s. The original investors in the company were William J. Can you say Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?". No mention does anyone else remember that?". Consumate pranksters, duo Jan and Dean walk across the stage carrying a ladder to the surprise of Paul Revere and the Raiders' lead singer Mark Lindsey. Wish I had gotten one. The Big Bam shows in Montgomery were on my list," said Jack Boles. Despite her young age -- she was 7 that year -- Bartoletti felt another emotion at the Gator Bowl: extreme pride. In 1964 the Brennans booked the Beatles for a concert in either Legion Field in Birmingham, or Garrett Coliseum or Crampton Bowl in Montgomery. . It was great! 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). "Play It All Night Long." Edgar Winter Group with the Frankenstein tour," said Rick Allen. 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. We played a lot of soul music, the Beatles, the Stones, he said. "Billsaid, 'Well, if anybody makes any money out of it, it's going to be me.' 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. The following year 13 acts played in WVOKs Shower of Stars show at Legion Field in Birmingham. JLL put on a hell of a show also. "I always had an idea about saving memories for people, and using the media that was becoming available, and that's what led me into this.". The author recalls with fondness the casual neighborliness that existed within his community, the freedom that children enjoyed to roam and play, and the slower pace of life that prevailed. The detailed map shows the US state of Alabama with boundaries, the location of the state capital Montgomery, major cities and populated places, rivers and lakes, interstate highways, principal highways, railroads and major airports. 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). "Cyril's idea was, 'Tell them to sing, just a little bit, and make sure that we get the right one.' ", From Eric Pendergrass: "Grateful Dead BJCC April 4,5 1995.". ", From bamamaam: "What about the lynyrd skynyrd concert at rickwood field in the '70's.? THE PROMOTIONAL POSTER OF THE WBAM, BIG BAM WINTER SPECTACULAR, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1967! The most popular group, both Brennan brothers agree, was Hermans Hermits (see sidebar below). WMSP is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Music lovers would line up at each venue, some arriving hours in advance, then rush inside to secure their favorite general-admission seats. 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. 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..