Both concerts were sold out. I missed a bunch more, though!". The wildest thing other than the Troggs rocking out to "Wild Thing" and whipping around long dirty hanks of British hair was Lou Christie. BB King's penultimate show at the Alabama (sitting but still playing and not drifting into non sequitur land). "I felt that I was lucky to be able to have the kind of job I had," Brennan says. It was a clear channel station that covered over 90 counties in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, and could be heard everywhere. Now sales manager for a Dothan radio station, Moody fondly remembers working as a teenager at a 1959 WBAM concert featuring singer Connie Francis. Edgar Winter Group with the Frankenstein tour," said Rick Allen. "Big Church Night Out" / Newsboys / Sidewalk Prophets / 7eventh Time Down / Blanca / Derek Minor / Brock Gill / Jeremy Willet . 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. Ticket prices were $2 for shows in the early 1960s, gradually increasing to a top price of $5.50, a pittance by todays standards. ", Brennan, headquartered in Birmingham, rode herd over the Shower of Stars and was the primary talent buyer for the concerts, along with his other duties at WVOK. Joni Mitchell at Tuscaloosa 1975 would be third," said jarobertson. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Uploaded 11 years ago Music 4; Photos 0; Interview . Keyboardist Mark Marvin will fill in for Eddie Wohlford who is unable to attend. Mosley tribes Lyndel . When Cher and Sonny first met in 1963, she was 16, while he was 27 and married (he and his first wife were separated). 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. Johnny Cash. In 1964 the Brennans booked the Beatles for a concert in either Legion Field in Birmingham, or Garrett Coliseum or Crampton Bowl in Montgomery. $14 million dollar house maine; Many of the artists told me these were the biggest shows theyd ever done.. 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. Show Duplicate for Mar 22, 2013: Mar 08, 2013 Justin Moore: Garrett Coliseum: People came from several states to see these shows. From Brian Willis: "Any of Alabama's June Jams. George Harrison is behind Dan on the left, John Lennon on the right. "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. They didn't come to hear me; they came to hear the Rolling Stones.'". 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. Go to the Archives We were considered the number one soul band in the south. The football stadiumposed a few extra challenges, Brennan says, from seating assignments to sound quality to weather preparation. The father of six and grandfather of two currently lives in Montgomery and plays with the Bama Breeze Band. ", Jerry Tavin/Photo courtesy of Everett Collection, From mcarter3: "Uhh. Where's Jimi Hendrix's concert at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1969? 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 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. She came back a few minutes later and absolutely blasted a massive bongo solo. December 3, 1955-As an extra Bonus..here's the advertisement for sister station WBAM, Montgomery, AL, when the very young Elvis Presley appeared. But from the . Big Bam Show. Otherwise . And not just the concerts, but the whole experience building up to it. 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. Sonny Grier is another longtime Montgomery band member who still plays music. What made those shows big was that Dan and Cyril would always pick the artists who were hot at the time, remembered Bill J. Moody, a former WBAM announcer and later host of Hubcap Classics. If a group had a hit record, we would have them. Joplin died on Oct. 4, 1970. Rock 'n' roll had just started, and you were right in the middle of it.". Date:Sun, 5 Jun 2005 09:12:45 -0400 I'll tell you a story about that WBAM show in Montgomery. big bam shows montgomery, alabama. One of the best concerts ever for Blues in Birmingham. 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. ", From Eric Pendergrass: "Grateful Dead BJCC April 4,5 1995.". Members: Original members Larry Hoyle, Johnny Hassett and Ron Howard, plus Chris Seymour, Johnny Long, Jr. and Craig Young. 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. One was the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama, which was to host a concert on September 10 th. THE PROMOTIONAL POSTER OF THE WBAM, BIG BAM WINTER SPECTACULAR, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1967! I just went to the Coliseum for the music. How many people have been able to say this at a concert, facing a roaring crowd? At this point, Mick Jagger and his pals were poised to release"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," their first international smash. After helping escort her safely away from an unruly crowd, she rewarded him with a big kiss. Elton John played three different years and drew over 40,000 total. For fans, half the fun was trying for a glimpse of the stars at their hotel or coming to and from the coliseum. It is amazing to think that was 41 years ago. 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. Just a few of the letters WBAM received from fans providing input into the acts they wished to see at the shows. The most popular group, both Brennan brothers agree, was Hermans Hermits (see sidebar below). I never chased the stars around to hotels or anything. 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. Brennan, now 86, introduced the Beatles at the Gator Bowlin Jacksonville, Fla., when the Fab Four played there on Sept. 11, 1964. From 1963 to 73 the Big BAM shows and their counterpart in Birmingham, the Shower of Stars shows, presented four concerts a year. (The station's nickname, "the Mighty 690," referred to its spot on the AM dial.). The Byrds. Hes been in a few movies, raced sports cars and been inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. The Fab Four wouldnt play to segregated audiences, and at that time this was the case in Alabama. 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). Jerry Lee Lewis. "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.". In 1964 the Brennans Jacksonville, Florida station, WAPE, hosted the Beatles in concert at the Gator Bowl (see sidebar below). Yes, the Beatles' performance was "a really big show," as Ed Sullivan wouldhave said. Lead in groups were the James Gang with Joe Walsh, and a group that got booed called Frampton's Camel before Peter Frampton hit it big. Patsy Cline Performs Her Final Show Country Music Memories; Most Wanted Music: 2023's Country and Americana Album Releases; Follow Us. Whitwam, now in his 47th year playing music, is pleased with the makeup of their current audiences. The chips were glued into Dianes scrap book between photos of the Beatles. 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. At the time, Sonny was interested Cher's friend, not her. Welcome to my Nightmare in Huntsville Von Braun 1975 and KISS in 1976 at Von Braun. For an 18-year-old to take home a pillowsack full of dollars, that was quite a heady time.. Memorial Coliseum, now known as Coleman Coliseum. The band also played Birmingham in May 1977, according to this story by Madison Underwood. 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. Studio Phone Number: (334) 244-9898. Business Office/Studios 4101-A Wall Street Montgomery, AL 36106. DMX. He would tear up the piano, Moody said, We couldnt find anyone to provide a piano, but he would put on a show. 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. Blue arcs of electricity knocked him unconscious and the show ended 15 minutes early. I remember some of them telling us they came to every show that whole year.". 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. 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. Most of the clubs have gone to a single performer, or a duo or karaoke. Herman's Hermits in the studio, Barry Whitwam on drums. The bands would come in cars -- just plain old cars -- and they'd get their guitars out and walk past you. Ask anyone who was there. "Lynyrd Skynyrd, after Montrose featuring Sammy Hagar July 4th, 1975 at Rickwood Field," said Bamabadger62. One big favorite, however, appears to be a '70s date at Legion Field. Wed have them in the spring, summer, fall and winter, said Dan Brennan, known on-air as Dan the Music Man hosting Dans Dusty Discs, who also announced acts on-stage. "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. The eruption from the crowd was louder than expected but the lights were so blinding, we could not see the audience. "I'm so old. Vocalist in Salem, Alabama 1,320 views on fandalism. In the 1960's WVOK, in Birmingham Alabama, would have the top bands play at one huge concert. 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. 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. He and his wife live north of Prattville in a 1930s shack, have three grown children and are expecting their first grandchild. We'd be there from the crack of dawn until midnight. 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 ", From dassani: "I was there Could not have been better! We rode up the . 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. WMSP is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, United States. "One of my favorites was RUSH 1981 Mobile Municipal Auditorium," said tgfmiss.
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