One of its earliest Big BAM Shows featured Elvis Presley as he ascended to fame, on the same bill with Roy Acuff. After helping escort her safely away from an unruly crowd, she rewarded him with a big kiss. former wcti reporters; winter village montreal; western new england university greek life; 1980 camaro z28 for sale in canada. 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. But from the . 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). Western European Countries, Italian Restaurants In Sandy Springs, Contemporary Music For All Coma, Ford Bronco Reservation Login, Panoplie Dragoeuf Dofus Touch, River Radio Station, Nice In Korean, How Did Tamerlan Tsarnaev Die, Den Of Behemoths Boss, Johnny Cash. (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). Procedimientos. Tickets cost $3 apiece. I was there both times. The WMSP studios are located on the 3rd floor of . How many people have been able to say this at a concert, facing a roaring crowd? He plays locally at Ruddles, Coaches Corner in Wetumpka, Young Barn Oyster Pub, and has recorded a CD. A recent Skype video call to his U.K. home found Whitwam fondly remembering the Hermits Big BAM Show performances. The band also played Birmingham in May 1977, according to this story by Madison Underwood. Only concert I have ever been to where they had tee shirts for the guitarist in the band along with the band's shirts. Which concerts will go down in history at Alabama music venues? His wild antics while playing the piano, including jumping on the keyboard, whipped the audience into a frenzy, making his act the most exciting at the time, Cyril Brennan added. 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. ", From TTownTony: "You cannot even imagine the concerts played in Tuscaloosa before the BJCC was built. A close second would be Yes at the Concert Hall in 2013. "Lynyrd Skynyrd, after Montrose featuring Sammy Hagar July 4th, 1975 at Rickwood Field," said Bamabadger62. 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. WBAM Big Bam Shows; Dan's Dusty Discs WBAM; WBAM Pictures; Read more about this topic: WBAM-FM, History. "This was a daytime concert that seemed like a war zone with fireworks flying everywhere. 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. Jimbo Jones (L) and Tommy Beavers look forward to the reunion of Harmony. 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. 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. Dan Brennan recalls the reaction from performers. They didn't come to hear me; they came to hear the Rolling Stones.'". Categories . Yet. "Two guitars and a stool. "I'm so. Flintstone House. (In 1965, Legion Field could seat more than 68,000 people.) "Fairgrounds Bham. "We had to import parkas, raincoats from Taiwan, so that was our rain insurance," Brennan says, laughing. Solid show during a year held in very high regard by a large number of Deadheads. ", "Rolling Stones in Auburn '69," said James Robert Chambless. They responded, swiftly and passionately, to a recent post listing 31 of the greatest shows at venues throughout the state. 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. Two years later WBAM went country and the station was later sold. The Alabama band was the organizer and centerpiece, raising money for charity. He never asked forautographs. Members: Original members Larry Hoyle, Johnny Hassett and Ron Howard, plus Chris Seymour, Johnny Long, Jr. and Craig Young. 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. Shop Patio & Garden, including exclusive patio furniture from brands like Broyhill. Mountain 1971," said Billy Bromberg. 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. 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 other name band on the show was the Allman Brothers, they had just released their first album. Herman's Hermits in the studio, Barry Whitwam on drums. Fans also rushed to nominate their favorites when asked for feedback. They moved to LA, minus Grier whod gotten married and had a new baby and didnt want to move. "I'm so old. 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.. 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. The entire show was magic, beginning with The Stranger and of course included many of the unknown Joel early songs. Lindley. I never chased the stars around to hotels or anything. . 2. fireworks at the end while playing freebird.??? But in the minds of Alabama listeners, WVOK and WBAM ruled supreme, and the stations were closely linked by their concert series. 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. He and his wife live north of Prattville in a 1930s shack, have three grown children and are expecting their first grandchild. 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. Dan Brennan, center, with the Grass Roots. 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. nellson nutraceutical revenue; arlington catholic basketball roster; jack cawood and suzy hunt; lawn vacuum for acorns rental. The Who. 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. Packed house for a 1960s Big BAM Show at Garrett Coliseum. From Brian Willis: "Any of Alabama's June Jams. It was just before his popularity exploded. It will be the first time theyve have been together since a reunion benefit at a local club in 2007. Disbanded in 66, reunited 76, returned to active performance 1991. ", From Jeremy Don McCollough: "Guns N' Roses played the Birmingham race course, it was a muddy mess. The band's management initially asked for 85 percent of the ticket proceeds or $25,000, whichever was greater, Brennan says. People would come night after night, said Lander, who owns Bama Lanes in Montgomery and Prattville. One show in particular stands out. Ticket prices were never more expensive than $4.00. Think it was 1977," says Craigmo. "Rolling Stones, October 5, 1989, Legion Field," said Emily A. 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. I think he could call his own shots.". 1984 at the BJCC. We do everything from Jerry Jeff Walker to the Grateful Dead to Van Morrison, says Pappas. 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. We try to introduce people to music maybe they werent aware of. Signature song includes Both Sides of the Road, about Perdido Bay, written by Ham Wilson. Brother Cyril Brennan, 84, was alternately chief engineer, manager, program director and music director at WBAM and also involved in lining up talent. "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.". By March 15, 2021 No Comments. Bob was producing a medical documentary in Alabama, and also was a promoter for Evil Kneival and Chill Wills. And the Shower of Stars concerts still linger in localmemory. "You didn't have to know anything about guitar to realize that he was one of the best ever to take the stage. He was a very special guy. The Carpenters. Formed: 1966, Tallassee. He must have played an hour and 20 minutes or more. "To go to the concerts was huge. We had enough left over that, for a lot of our promotions after that, people would get free raincoats.". Show Hide article text (OCR) 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. Can you say Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?". My personal favorite concert of all times was Billy Joel at the BJCC Concert Hall. We put on a heck of a show, said Grier. Brennan, now 86, introduced the Beatles at the Gator Bowlin Jacksonville, Fla., when the Fab Four played there on Sept. 11, 1964. I have such fond memories of coming to Alabama. 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. They actually were already signed to join, when Peace Concerts booked the January 31, 1975 show. 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. Ticket prices were never more expensive than $4.00. It would be tough going back to ballrooms and small clubs after this. "He said, 'Dan, I like to play for you here in town, but I don't want you to ever book me on a show like this again. to see more entries, Posted on November 1, 2011 by bob in Features. The most popular group, both Brennan brothers agree, was Hermans Hermits (see sidebar below). They had the Stones in about 1963-64, with Brian Jones before he died. Ticket prices were $2 for shows in the early 1960s, gradually increasing to a top price of $5.50, a pittance by todays standards. "Billsaid, 'Well, if anybody makes any money out of it, it's going to be me.' Were a dance band.. But the moment was indelible for one of his daughters, Debbie Brennan Bartoletti. ", From Eric Pendergrass: "Grateful Dead BJCC April 4,5 1995.". JLL put on a hell of a show also. We enjoyed all the years we spent in radio, said Dan Brennan, who now owns a video production company in Birmingham. Our four-piece horn section sets us apart, said Key. 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. Lou Christie was huge in Montgomery. I said, 'Well, you've got a choice here. Anotherbrother, Bill Brennan, was the undisputed chief of the Jacksonville station, and had houses in Montgomery and Jacksonville. "Tuscaloosa Memorial Coliseum 1972," said Randy Palmer. ); 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). At least 25 people tried to jump the stage during the concert and were knocked backward into the crowd by gigantic stage bouncers! "I felt that I was lucky to be able to have the kind of job I had," Brennan says. December 3, 1955-As an extra Bonus..here's the advertisement for sister station WBAM, Montgomery, AL, when the very young Elvis Presley appeared. Members: Mitch Alton (original member), Gregg Pappas, Ham Wilson, Bill Marshall , Dwight Williams, Rick Byrd, Orville Cain, Carl Tesh. "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. We only heard them. I said, 'Well, this is Roy's show. The Four Seasons. "In those days, you could go to a concert and there was only one back door. Because it was so big, we ran on stage as soon as we were introduced, grabbed our instruments and started playing before the applause died down. "Times have changed so," said a wistful Peek, the Shower of Stars devotee. ", From Steve Wayne: "Guns N' Roses at the Birmingham Race Course. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. From what we can tell, she appeared there in 1970, but the story mentions Dec. 3, 1970, as the date of her show. "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. "Radio played the song every twenty minutes. Its amazing the life we got to live.. The bands that performed were: The Beach Boys / lou christie / Ian Whitcomb / The Happenings / the hollies / peter and gordon. I said, 'Cyril, what do you think we ought to do?' Their first gig was at the Wetumpka Recreation Center where admission was $1. Thats not to say Montgomery area favorite bands cant be seen any more. Clipping found in Alabama Journal in Montgomery, Alabama on Mar 24, 1966. big bam shows montgomery, alabama. 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. "We're big on memories," Brennan says. Brennanleft the radio business for good in 1982. "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. He wants to go on late in the show.' He doesnt keep up with Johnny Townsend, but remains friends with Rusty Crumpton and Ed Sanford, who is a successful artist in Los Angeles. A story by Ben Flanagan of AL.com, looking back at concerts at the coliseum, also mentions Joplin. And the Brennans knew how to put on a show.. 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. For an 18-year-old to take home a pillowsack full of dollars, that was quite a heady time.. Gary Puckett & the Union Gap. 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. In 1964 the Brennans Jacksonville, Florida station, WAPE, hosted the Beatles in concert at the Gator Bowl (see sidebar below). From 1963 to 73 the Big BAM shows and their counterpart in Birmingham, the Shower of Stars shows, presented four concerts a year. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. "Excuse me---did I miss the ROLLING STONES STEEL WHEELS TOUR??????????????????" 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. Formed: 1963, Troy. 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. Go to the Archives The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. WMSP is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, United States. 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! Hes been a school principal and now sells wholesale art, although business has been suffering due to the economy. By nature, talent and inclination, Brennanwasentirely suited to the family business; thousands of fans knew his voice and remembered his name. "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. Any of the Yes shows in Birmingham! Keith Richards was almost electrocuted when his guitar grounded on a mic. The station's transmitter is located in the town of Grady, Alabama. Birmingham on May 20, 1967. "It was a promotional thing for us. Rich Thomas Weather. That's how we put together our shows. Rare Earth. "Eight Days a Week -- The Touring Years. Date:Sun, 5 Jun 2005 09:12:45 -0400 I'll tell you a story about that WBAM show in Montgomery. 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 . Clayton, Hayward and Gradney. the tall man aboriginal spirit; metadata api request failed: component conversion failed: file_ended; caleb foote sandlot (The Beatles' popularity in the U.S. exploded in 1964, and that year's tour was a watershed moment for the band.). Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that is rarely revealed within the pages of history texts. Garrett Coliseum, in contrast, could hold 10,000+ for a single performance in Montgomery. I was blown away. Many regulars from the Kove days brought their grown children and will likely do so again. The station's studios are . The following year 13 acts played in WVOKs Shower of Stars show at Legion Field in Birmingham. While Gator Bowl officials relented to a desegregated audience for the concert, two other venues Epstein had chosen were problematic. We played all the way through college, says Long. They played at YMCAs, American Legion halls, private parties, and dances all over south Alabama, Panama City, Savannah, and Greenville, Miss. There was this woman who was playing the bongos who literally passed out playing. That was one of my first big gigs - the Big BAM shows! ", From Cobb: "Buckingham Nicks in Morgan Auditorium Tuscaloosa Alabama Fall 1973.". Read reviews from world's largest community for readers. Welcome to my Nightmare in Huntsville Von Braun 1975 and KISS in 1976 at Von Braun. "There was a little one, and a big one, and we didn't know which was which," Brennan says. From kwe: "The best I've seen are all of the Big Bam shows during the '60s in Montgomery, Garrett Coliseum; Eagles, 1977 in Mobile: Fleetwood Mac, 1977 in Bham CC; Atlanta Rhythm Section, 1978 in Troy Sartain; Heart/America, 1985 in Montgomery CC; Stevie Ray Vaughn/Joe Cocker, 1986 in Bham Oak Mtn; Rolling Stones, 1989 in Bham Legion Field; John Fogerty/Willie Nelson, 2006 in Bham Oak Mtn; Chicago, 2011 in Mtgy MPAC. 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. 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. ", From UABMBA: "One of the greatest concerts in Alabama was The Rolling Stones with Chuck Berry at Auburn Memorial Coliseum, November 14, 1969. Other notable former personalities included Bill J. Moody, Paul Simpkins, Mark Robbins, Gene Hocutt and Joe Cook. Roy Orbison. 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. truly historic happening. Cyril Brennan, who received a Top Program Director award from Billboard Magazine, is retired and lives in Pike Road. "Ringo had a riser above the stage, and of course this is all outdoors, and the winds were blowing up to 70 miles an hour," Brennan says. Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. "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. From Denniswingo: "Was there! Respi Mee Sup Sabahiiat. Nothing else necessary. 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. It was great! Grier continued to sing with trios and orchestras, performing at wedding receptions and private parties. One was the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama, which was to host a concert on September 10 th. 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. Bobby Dupree (L) and Sonny Grier of the Rockin' Gibraltars. Both concerts were sold out. "People were going crazy, and you couldn't hear anything because the girls were screaming so loud," Bartoletti says. Things changed a little bit after that. ", From Ken Cole: "I was at Jerry Lee Lewis in Boutwell in the mid '60s when I was a kid.