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. (His moniker on the air: Dan the Music Man. How many people have been able to say this at a concert, facing a roaring crowd? A real commercial from the 60's with announcer Bill J Moody .Exciting times as a teen.growing up in Montgomery. ", From David Hester: "Eagles at Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville in 1975. He was a very special guy. I missed a bunch more, though!". Cyril Brennan, who received a Top Program Director award from Billboard Magazine, is retired and lives in Pike Road. 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. The Rockin' Rebellions won top honors - beating out 67 other bands from throughout Alabama. 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. Their first gig was at the Wetumpka Recreation Center where admission was $1. I just went to the Coliseum for the music. 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. There are still a lot of local bands out there, said Sonny Grier, lead singer with the Rockin Gibraltars. Thomas, joined by John Kay (solo after leaving Steppenwolf), the Grass Roots and others. People would come night after night, said Lander, who owns Bama Lanes in Montgomery and Prattville. Most recently they performed earlier this year for a benefit show for ailing former bandmate Keith Brewer, who died in April of cancer. 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. Big Bam Show. Shower of Stars - Bhamwiki Sonny Grier is another longtime Montgomery band member who still plays music. All rights reserved (About Us). That way I could see the stars and hear the music better. (L-R) Bob Corley, David Headley, Cary Green, Jeffery Johnson, Bob Pike, John Key. 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.. December 3, 1955-As an extra Bonus..here's the advertisement for sister station WBAM, Montgomery, AL, when the very young Elvis Presley appeared. I think he could call his own shots.". WBAM-FM - History - Historical Videos Gobs of people have asked us when were going to do another reunion. "We gave everybody who came a free rain parka. "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. I always got seats on the floor for the shows. "To go to the concerts was huge. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Hes been in a few movies, raced sports cars and been inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Famous quotes containing the words historical and/or videos: DMX. All rights reserved (About Us). Its amazing the life we got to live.. "It was a promotional thing for us. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Best Review Site for Digital Cameras. Formed: 1963, Troy. ), "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.'". Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Uploaded 11 years ago Music 4; Photos 0; Interview . 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. 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. "Bill" Brennan, Billy Benns (Jr.) and Mrs. Luella B. Aldridge. ", 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. Of all the concerts I've been to in my lifetime, this one was the most memorable. 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. ", From Will-I: "Bruce Springsteen in Auburn in 1975. He wants to go on late in the show.' 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 what we can tell, she appeared there in 1970, but the story mentions Dec. 3, 1970, as the date of her show. I kept going to at least one show a year through about 1968, he said. From Sell it to the tourists: "I saw an amazing Harry Chapin show at the BJCC Concert Hall in around 1978? ", From Denniswingo: "The Grateful Dead in 1978 at the Boutwell Auditorium. The Hollies. 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. Contact - Bama Country 98.9 - WBAM Go to the Archives Published by at February 16, 2022. The Who. For an 18-year-old to take home a pillowsack full of dollars, that was quite a heady time.. So many great City Stages performances: Chuck Berry (backed my some of Birmingham's finest), James Brown, Johnny Cash (right after Randy Newman! He remembers the Kove days with Harvest/Harmony fondly, not only for the bands music but the people who came to see them. My personal favorite concert of all times was Billy Joel at the BJCC Concert Hall. K Jamie Carter Childhood Toys Childhood Memories Camille Redouble Sheila E Or Nirvana at Boutwell in 1993?Or Roger McGuinn at Merrimack Hall in 2014? But the moment was indelible for one of his daughters, Debbie Brennan Bartoletti. 2. She came back a few minutes later and absolutely blasted a massive bongo solo. The Animals. They agreed to do it, but they were on one end of it, and the Beach Boys were on the other end of it. "You didn't have to know anything about guitar to realize that he was one of the best ever to take the stage. From Brian Willis: "Any of Alabama's June Jams. With no sound checks between acts, group would run on stage and begin playing almost immediately. They responded, swiftly and passionately, to a recent post listing 31 of the greatest shows at venues throughout the state. Signature songs include Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison), Cryin (Roy Orbison). The Other Side of Montgomery: Growing Up White in the Birthplace of the Neither Tommy Shaw nor Beth Nielsen Chapman will be on hand due to their schedules. And they accepted it, but we did get the total amount of the gate that came in. Big Bam Show . I was there both times. The original investors in the company were William J. Springsteen played the 'short end' of the the Beard-Eaves with the curtain up. December 24, 1958: Jerry Lee Lewis ; December 12, 1959: Fabian, The Fleetwoods, The Browns, Floyd Robinson and Bobby Lee Trammell Keyboardist Mark Marvin will fill in for Eddie Wohlford who is unable to attend. The Troggs. Disbanded in 66, reunited 76, returned to active performance 1991. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that is rarely revealed within the pages of history texts. The Alabama band was the organizer and centerpiece, raising money for charity. He would tear up the piano, Moody said, We couldnt find anyone to provide a piano, but he would put on a show. HOW COME PAUL GODDARD PUSHES HIS GLASSES UP THE BRIDGE OF HIS NOSE? Bottom (l-r), Ronnie Monroe, Bobby Dupree and Rusty Crumpton. Dan Brennan, center, with the Grass Roots. 3. Edgar Winter Group with the Frankenstein tour," said Rick Allen. "Eight Days a Week -- The Touring Years. The Other Side of Montgomery : Growing Up White in the Birthplace of Notable TV and Radio personality Jimmy Carter (from Montgomery, Alabama) has assembled a few videos featuring some photos, jingles, and air checks of WBAM in its heyday. Big Lots Prattville: Furniture, mattress & home product store in The other was Municipal Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, where a show had been set for September 15 th. WBAM Big Bam Shows; Dan's Dusty Discs WBAM; WBAM Pictures; Read more about this topic: WBAM-FM, History. ", From estevev: "Of the ones I attended, the most memorable ones were -- Ike and Tina Turner Review, Plush Horse, (1974? The Lovin' Spoonful. Its better than not being remembered at all.. In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero f. The Other Side of Montgomery book. Men. 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. From Mike Travis: "KISS, Van Halen, Rush, The Who, The Rolling Stones , Pink Floyd the racetrack mudfield to see GNR, Billy Joel and Elton John as well as the Eagles and Metallica in '81. Can you believe it? There was always so much excitement surrounding the shows, Knapp said. WBAM FM - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia Neil Diamond. It would be tough going back to ballrooms and small clubs after this. Montgomery's home for country music favorites like Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert . 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Montgomery, Alabama, United States: Apr 15, 2016 keith sweat / Juvenile / Morris Day & The Time / Cherelle: . big bam shows montgomery, alabama - mmischools.com Vocalist in Salem, Alabama 1,320 views on fandalism. It was a hold out because they had missed a previous show in May of 1974. Chuck Berry was awesome and the Stones in their early days were unbelievable.". The Turtles | Concerts Wiki | Fandom "I'm also a little partial to Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Jerry Reed, Johnny Paycheck, when they played at Old York Farms in the late '90s," said Jeremy Don McCollough. The Rogues of Montgomery, AL cut one great rock single, "Put You Down" b/w a version of "Stormy Monday Blues". 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? "Times have changed so," said a wistful Peek, the Shower of Stars devotee. Bama Country 98.9 - WBAM - Montgomery's Most Country "It cost enough that we were lucky to come out with just enough and break even with it," Brennan says. It was everything. Then another. Reactions to these picks -- made by entertainment reporters Matt Wake, Lawrence Specker and Mary Colurso -- ranged from praise to anger, support to dismay. 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. The other name band on the show was the Allman Brothers, they had just released their first album. Its magic, said Beavers. 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. It was a real happening thing.. The station's studios are . "It was rewarding, because people seemed to respond to some of the things I was doing. 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. "I don't have any regrets," hesays. The capsule was opened during a ceremony December 3, but a complete list of its contents were not released at the time. "Ringo said, 'I'm not getting up there unless you build me a bannister around this thing.' 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. Dislike Share. 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. One of the most powerful Shower of Stars events happened on May 7, 1965, when WVOK brought the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys to Legion Field. One of the best concerts ever for Blues in Birmingham. 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. . 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. Customer Help Desk WBAM ~ Trax & Grooves - Blogger 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. By nature, talent and inclination, Brennanwasentirely suited to the family business; thousands of fans knew his voice and remembered his name. It feels good. Just a few of the letters WBAM received from fans providing input into the acts they wished to see at the shows. big bam shows montgomery, alabama That's how we put together our shows. big bam shows montgomery, alabama - dialectic.solutions "I'm so old. 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. "We all felt very privileged," Bartoletti says. Clipping found in Alabama Journal in Montgomery, Alabama on Mar 24, 1966. Toni loved doing the show, but Daryl, who never enjoyed being on camera, did not. 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.". Big Bam Show - Newspapers.com 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. Hes been a school principal and now sells wholesale art, although business has been suffering due to the economy. "It was cold outside, show was to begin at 6 but began at 9; coeds from T-town waited for 2nd show which was to begin at 9 but began at about 2 next morning, had to get permission to stay in those days and freeze outside at Auburn University Coliseum. Fans also rushed to nominate their favorites when asked for feedback. "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. ', "We went over there and asked Roy, and he said, 'No, we're not going to do that. We were all so nervous we wore dark sunglasses so nobody could see how scared we were, said Dupree. 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. shimano ep8 630wh battery range 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 How Sonny and Cher Went From TV's Power Couple to Bitter Exes - Biography A memorable night that I won't ever forget. 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. Peter (Asher) and Gordon (Waller), Big BAM Show. Bob Brennen gave me these. 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. 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.
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