Cosmic Slop was classic, turned that mother out. Formed: 1972, Tuscaloosa. Instant Help Questions? 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. 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. One of the Beach Boys told me it was the biggest talent show hed ever been in!. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that. Jimbo Jones (L) and Tommy Beavers look forward to the reunion of Harmony. They enjoy reminiscing about the stars, the shows and the fans who made it possible. Montgomery's home for country music favorites like Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert . 2. "Rickwood Field, late 70's. 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. "Times have changed so," said a wistful Peek, the Shower of Stars devotee. 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 I told Jimbo we should all come in with walkers, laughed Beavers. Props. [2] Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning to sports talk under the WMSP callsign in 1995. Vocalist in Salem, Alabama 1,320 views on fandalism. It was just the coolest thing.". Music lovers would line up at each venue, some arriving hours in advance, then rush inside to secure their favorite general-admission seats. Big Bam Show . 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. 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. ", From StolibGeezer: "Zevon played the Alabama twice. Lowell George in his prime," says Bingothatwuzagoody. "The Stranger album had just come out and was only beginning to get some air play. I'll never forget it. Springsteen played the 'short end' of the the Beard-Eaves with the curtain up. Rich Thomas Weather. Cyril's wife Louise would make us outfits for the Shower of Stars, and we'd have on these big bell bottoms. A story by Ben Flanagan of AL.com, looking back at concerts at the coliseum, also mentions Joplin. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Hisconcertseries rocked their worlds and shaped their music tastes, in tandem with WVOK. Other notable former personalities included Bill J. Moody, Paul Simpkins, Mark Robbins, Gene Hocutt and Joe Cook. Gobs of people have asked us when were going to do another reunion. Sweet Young Uns As a result, Captain and Tennille declined ABC's offer to do a second season. ", From Cobb: "Buckingham Nicks in Morgan Auditorium Tuscaloosa Alabama Fall 1973.". They agreed to do it, but they were on one end of it, and the Beach Boys were on the other end of it. 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. Iron Butterfly. The Rogues of Montgomery, AL cut one great rock single, "Put You Down" b/w a version of "Stormy Monday Blues". "What's that Frank Sinatra song? George Cumuze, RN, Case Manager 4150 Carmichael Court Montgomery, AL 36106 334-270-2274. show . ", From Denniswingo: "The Grateful Dead in 1978 at the Boutwell Auditorium. FUNK-ON. They actually were already signed to join, when Peace Concerts booked the January 31, 1975 show. Steve Lander, who originally booked Harvest at the Kove in 1975, has offered the Blue Iguana free for the night. A memorable night that I won't ever forget. Both concerts were sold out. ", "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. Members: Original members John Key, David Headley and Bob Corley plus David Langford, Mike Mobley, Larry Hughes, Bobby Johnson and Rick Roper. Published by at February 16, 2022. Tickets were priced at$1.50-$5.50 per show, Brennan says, and artists' fees usually ran about $300-$7,500 per act. His clothes were all rumpled, and he said, 'Dan, I need to go on later in the show. FACIAL. Chuck Berry was an intro-act, great show he put on. They played at YMCAs, American Legion halls, private parties, and dances all over south Alabama, Panama City, Savannah, and Greenville, Miss. One of Brennan's favorite anecdotes concerns a young Elvis Presley, making waves and jostling for position before a concerton Dec. 3,1955, at Garrett Coliseum. "That was before he became very big. "I don't have any regrets," hesays. Dan Brennan had the honor of introducing the Beatles. I've seen so many good shows in Birmingham over the years! The following year 13 acts played in WVOKs Shower of Stars show at Legion Field in Birmingham. It was the most important thing in our lives. The primary reason for the shows was to keep a personal relationship with the listeners, said Dan Brennan, 81, former general manager at WVOK. We enjoyed all the years we spent in radio, said Dan Brennan, who now owns a video production company in Birmingham. Mountain 1971," said Billy Bromberg. "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. Alabama State Coliseum (1951-1963) Garrett Coliseum (1963-) Oct 5 2019 No mention does anyone else remember that?". The Rogues recorded the 45 in February of 1966, for MBM Records, a Birmingham, Alabama label that goes back to the early '60s. One of the best concerts ever for Blues in Birmingham. The venue? This was the last concert they did before going back to LA and joining the band Fleetwood Mac. We would always find the artists who were very popular with our audience, and we would try to get them, and we usually were successful.". ", From ghostreader: "Springsteen, mobile civic center theater may 1976. Welcome to my Nightmare in Huntsville Von Braun 1975 and KISS in 1976 at Von Braun. 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. . The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC. He doesnt keep up with Johnny Townsend, but remains friends with Rusty Crumpton and Ed Sanford, who is a successful artist in Los Angeles. Hello? Can you believe it? The Hollies. He must have played an hour and 20 minutes or more. We played all the way through college, says Long. We made $100, remembers Grier. ", From Jeremy Don McCollough: "Guns N' Roses played the Birmingham race course, it was a muddy mess. In 1964 the Brennans Jacksonville, Florida station, WAPE, hosted the Beatles in concert at the Gator Bowl (see sidebar below). "It didn't matter. It's not like now, where they have secret tunnels and drive right into the auditorium.". His family owned WBAM in Montgomery, and WVOK in Birmingham, both 50,000 watt clear channels stations back in the day. "In those days, you could go to a concert and there was only one back door. He kicked it off with (what else?) We would skip class and work setting up the stages for free admission and backstage passes. The Alabama band was the organizer and centerpiece, raising money for charity. The Fab Four wouldnt play to segregated audiences, and at that time this was the case in Alabama. WBAM Big Bam Shows; Dan's Dusty Discs WBAM; WBAM Pictures; Read more about this topic: WBAM-FM, History. Instead, the concert was held at the Gator Bowl under the auspices of the Brennans Jacksonville station WAPE, the Big APE. 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. In one fell swoop, he was in hot demand. He said, 'We're going to put both of them on.' Tommy James & the Shondells. Bell. 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. "Big Church Night Out" / Newsboys / Sidewalk Prophets / 7eventh Time Down / Blanca / Derek Minor / Brock Gill / Jeremy Willet . "There was a little one, and a big one, and we didn't know which was which," Brennan says. That one was epic alright, unlike any other! Shop Patio & Garden, including exclusive patio furniture from brands like Broyhill. 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. But it never happened. Lou Christie was huge in Montgomery. "Rolling Stones, October 5, 1989, Legion Field," said Emily A. Fees for the other acts were in the $300-$400 range, he says. They changed their name to Heart before eventually folding. 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. I believe that city has a particular significance to you. Wish I had gotten one. White guys playing soul music!, Most of the stuff we played was music you could easily dance to, said Dupree. 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! ", From estevev: "Of the ones I attended, the most memorable ones were -- Ike and Tina Turner Review, Plush Horse, (1974? The other name band on the show was the Allman Brothers, they had just released their first album. There was a little jealousy there.". 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. "I think the story about Buckingham Nicks is pretty interesting. "Play It All Night Long." 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. 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. "Bill" Brennan, one of the owners of The Big Bam, Montgomery's renowned 50,000-watt radio station. 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, ", "This is so subjective and there are way too many to pick from. Respi Mee Sup Sabahiiat. These are just a few of the acts presentedby the Brennans during the 1950s, '60s and early '70s. We only heard them. 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. The band also played Birmingham in May 1977, according to this story by Madison Underwood. By March 15, 2021 No Comments. 6 places sorted by traveler favorites Clear all filters 1. Each episode had a specific theme, mission, or challenge which was accomplished by performing pranks, skateboarding, and enlisting the help of . Cyril Brennan, who received a Top Program Director award from Billboard Magazine, is retired and lives in Pike Road. Dislike Share. 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. The Rolling Stones. In spirited retaliation, Paul Revere and the Raiders march in lock step across the stage behind performers Jan and Dean. Anybody remember that one? ", 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." "I didn't stay up there too long," Brennan says, laughing. Formed: 1963, Troy. ", From TTownTony: "You cannot even imagine the concerts played in Tuscaloosa before the BJCC was built. From Brian Willis: "Any of Alabama's June Jams. It is amazing to think that was 41 years ago. go to da moon copy and paste. The Temptations and The Supremes, The TCB Tour, Auburn University, 1972. truly historic happening. Whitwam remembers little of that show, but subsequent performances are crystal clear. Hes been in a few movies, raced sports cars and been inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. We do everything from Jerry Jeff Walker to the Grateful Dead to Van Morrison, says Pappas. Any of the Yes shows in Birmingham! Anotherbrother, Bill Brennan, was the undisputed chief of the Jacksonville station, and had houses in Montgomery and Jacksonville. For more, visit Rich's YouTube Channel . Disbanded in 66, reunited 76, returned to active performance 1991. And if we hadn't had (Hurricane Dora), we would have made a lot of money. While Gator Bowl officials relented to a desegregated audience for the concert, two other venues Epstein had chosen were problematic. A recent Skype video call to his U.K. home found Whitwam fondly remembering the Hermits Big BAM Show performances. It was important to us.". It was a hold out because they had missed a previous show in May of 1974. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that is rarely revealed within the pages of history texts. Fans also rushed to nominate their favorites when asked for feedback. From au92536: "June Jam in Fort Payne - I know it's country BUT. WVOK is now all-sports. "Elviswas an opening act," Brennan says. December 24, 1958: Jerry Lee Lewis ; December 12, 1959: Fabian, The Fleetwoods, The Browns, Floyd Robinson and Bobby Lee Trammell 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. 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." 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. Neil Diamond. (It was free.) 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!' Beth Nielsen joined the group after Shaw left. 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. 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. Flintstone House. Brennanleft the radio business for good in 1982. It was a real happening thing.. "Fairgrounds Bham. Shop Now I missed a bunch more, though!". Oh, and some guy named David on slide. It was a clear channel station that covered over 90 counties in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, and could be heard everywhere. A license for the station was issued in 1952. Neither Tommy Shaw nor Beth Nielsen Chapman will be on hand due to their schedules. "We gave everybody who came a free rain parka. Packed house for a 1960s Big BAM Show at Garrett Coliseum. 3. The Rockin' Rebellions won top honors - beating out 67 other bands from throughout Alabama. Melissa Parker (Smashing Interviews Magazine): Tommy, I'm in Montgomery, Alabama. The father of six and grandfather of two currently lives in Montgomery and plays with the Bama Breeze Band. More on the Grateful Dead's 1995 shows in Birmingham, from AL.com's "Lost Stories" series. He also helped to choose and line up some of the concert talent. But the moment was indelible for one of his daughters, Debbie Brennan Bartoletti. (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). Read reviews from world's largest community for readers. Paul Revere & the Raiders. Its magic, said Beavers. 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! The WMSP studios are located on the 3rd floor of . 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. 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. 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. 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). Hendrix only played a limited number of concerts before he died and the one in Tuscaloosa blew the top off Memorial Coliseum. Im content where Im at, said Beavers, except I could lose about 80 pounds.. From Billy Bromberg: "Led Zeppelin 1973, Coleman Coliseum." We didnt play where people sat around and drank. 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. 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). Brennan bid farewell to concert promotion in 1973 --a necessary business decision, he says -- and for Birmingham music lovers, it was the end of an era. Jerry Lee Lewis hristie Lou C. Paul Revere & the Raiders . By 1972 the heyday of the big shows had passed. Anybody else remember seeing Joplin in Tuscaloosa? on. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Garrett Coliseum, in contrast, could hold 10,000+ for a single performance in Montgomery. He even did about 30 seconds of Sweet Home Alabama (that was before that song was worn out). People would come night after night, said Lander, who owns Bama Lanes in Montgomery and Prattville. "Bill" Brennan, Billy Benns (Jr.) and Mrs. Luella B. Aldridge. 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. Just a few of the letters WBAM received from fans providing input into the acts they wished to see at the shows. (L-R) Bob Corley, David Headley, Cary Green, Jeffery Johnson, Bob Pike, John Key. She came back a few minutes later and absolutely blasted a massive bongo solo. The Grass Roots. In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero f. Home; My Books; Browse . WBAM, also known as 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. The Troggs. 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. Still, for radio listeners who tuned into WVOK back in the day, Brennan will always be Dan the Music Man. I always was impressed about how well the bands performed when they were live, even though the Coliseum acoustics werent so good.. 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. Skyping with a Hermit "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. I'm sure they were totally confused.". 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Their first gig was at the Wetumpka Recreation Center where admission was $1. But from the . He wanted us to sign a management contract with him, but we were still under contract with Marshall and . Were a dance band.. 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. WMSP (740 AM, Sports Radio 740) is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, USA. Or Nirvana at Boutwell in 1993?Or Roger McGuinn at Merrimack Hall in 2014? I always got seats on the floor for the shows. The Righteous Brothers. "This was a daytime concert that seemed like a war zone with fireworks flying everywhere. WBAM Big Bam Shows 7,142 views Nov 21, 2010 One of the big hit singers of the 60's and 70's working on a bit with me for a TV show..a little behind the scenes..Bobby is involved with art. 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. Readers of AL.com have plenty of ideas. 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. 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. Sonny Grier is another longtime Montgomery band member who still plays music.
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