Shop Patio & Garden, including exclusive patio furniture from brands like Broyhill. Dan'sbrother, Cyril Brennan, who lived in Montgomery, held several titles during his tenure at WBAM: chief engineer, station manager and program director among them. Keith Richards was almost electrocuted when his guitar grounded on a mic. I always got seats on the floor for the shows. The Who played there. (L-R) Bob Corley, David Headley, Cary Green, Jeffery Johnson, Bob Pike, John Key. Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning to sports talk under the WMSP callsign in 1995. We were waiting at the Holiday Inn, in the bar at the hotel having a beer. 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. According to Ben Flanagan's story for AL.com, the band also played in Tuscaloosa at Memorial Coliseum, now Coleman Coliseum. Big Bam All-Star Spring Show Setlists Apr 8 1967 Date Saturday, April 8, 1967 Venue Garrett Coliseum, Montgomery, AL, USA So far there are setlists of 9 gigs 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 Capital Cool. "You didn't have to know anything about guitar to realize that he was one of the best ever to take the stage. We rode up the . That was one of my first big gigs - the Big BAM shows! Rare Earth. ), "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.'". Bob Brennen gave me these. A buddy and I went down hoping for a miracle and some guy offered us two tickets for $10 bucks each which we gladly paid. The band has undergone several incarnations. 2. But he's sure the introduction was brief, wasting no time as Beatlemania raged. Back then, thats what music was about, remembers Bobby Dupree, 63, drummer with The Rockin Gibraltars, a popular Montgomery-based group in the 60s. Top (l-r), Keith Brewer, Ed Sanford and Sonny Grier. Show Hide article text (OCR) Instead, the concert was held at the Gator Bowl under the auspices of the Brennans Jacksonville station WAPE, the Big APE. 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. "Rickwood Field, late 70's. ", 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. The Brennan Brothers were radio broadcast innovators of the 1950s and 60s, when they owned and operated powerhouse stations in Jacksonville, Chattanooga, and . 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. WBAM Big Bam Shows; Dan's Dusty Discs WBAM; WBAM Pictures; Read more about this topic: WBAM-FM, History. Here, then, is a readers' choice list of 31 awesome concerts in Alabama, culled from email, Facebook and comments on the original post. Of all the concerts I've been to in my lifetime, this one was the most memorable. "In those days, you could go to a concert and there was only one back door. 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. "Big Church Night Out" / Newsboys / Sidewalk Prophets / 7eventh Time Down / Blanca / Derek Minor / Brock Gill / Jeremy Willet . We'd get hamburgers and bring them back, with someone always holding our place. Disbanded in 66, reunited 76, returned to active performance 1991. From Sell it to the tourists: "I saw an amazing Harry Chapin show at the BJCC Concert Hall in around 1978? 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. ", Several readers mentioned Lynyrd Skynyrd as a given, pointing to various concerts throughout the state. The band also played Birmingham in May 1977, according to this story by Madison Underwood. I can sing as good or better now than I did then, said Grier. Montgomery, Alabama, United States: Apr 15, 2016 keith sweat / Juvenile / Morris Day & The Time / Cherelle: . Props. The station's studios are . "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. said donnna. The Beatles in Alabama? Bobby Dupree (L) and Sonny Grier of the Rockin' Gibraltars. (It was free.) 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. Hendrix only played a limited number of concerts before he died and the one in Tuscaloosa blew the top off Memorial Coliseum. ", "Rolling Stones in Auburn '69," said James Robert Chambless. And didn't ever explain to the people what had happened. Anotherbrother, Bill Brennan, was the undisputed chief of the Jacksonville station, and had houses in Montgomery and Jacksonville. 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. 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. Readers of AL.com have plenty of ideas. Find the answers to any question. ", From Denniswingo: "The Grateful Dead in 1978 at the Boutwell Auditorium. shimano ep8 630wh battery range ", The Birmingham News file photo/Philip Barr. Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. Roy Orbison. We only heard them. Rock 'n' roll had just started, and you were right in the middle of it.". And not just the concerts, but the whole experience building up to it. 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 primary reason for the shows was to keep a personal relationship with the listeners, said Dan Brennan, 81, former general manager at WVOK. "There was a police line for the Beatles to run through, and the stage was built up so people couldn't get to them.". It was important to us.". Hal Hodgens of WVOK is second from left. 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. Ticket prices were never more expensive than $4.00. [Montgomery native and fellow Robert E. Lee graduate Tommy Shaw came back from Chicago to join the group, staying six months until getting a call to join Styx, who needed a replacement for a guitarist whod left as they were about to go on tour. The only multiple-act show in the country similar to what the Brennans offered were those produced by Dick Clark. Peter (Asher) and Gordon (Waller), Big BAM Show. "Best concert I caught in this state was at Memorial Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1978 Lowell George and Little Feat. The chips were glued into Dianes scrap book between photos of the Beatles. Big Bam Show Montgomery, Al 1960s F.U.N. The father of six and grandfather of two currently lives in Montgomery and plays with the Bama Breeze Band. Chuck Berry was awesome and the Stones in their early days were unbelievable.". By today's standards, his solution to the latter problemseems charmingly old-school. The capsule was opened during a ceremony December 3, but a complete list of its contents were not released at the time. snapchat chat bitmoji peeking. It was just before his popularity exploded. Tickets cost $3 apiece. 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.. "The Stranger album had just come out and was only beginning to get some air play. He pulls this at every one of our shows. 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. By nature, talent and inclination, Brennanwasentirely suited to the family business; thousands of fans knew his voice and remembered his name. One was the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama, which was to host a concert on September 10 th. 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. 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. Moody remembers the group mysteriously disappeared after one show and had to be retrieved to play their second gig (lead singer Peter Noone was known to enjoy a party.). Their first gig was at the Wetumpka Recreation Center where admission was $1. Later acts included the Beach Boys, the Animals, the Dave Clark Five, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Tommy James and the Shondells and the perennial Montgomery favorite, Lou Christie. The Brennans often picked up and drove band members to and from the airport and hotels, quite a thrill for Diane Brennan Knapp and Donnie Kay Brennan, daughters of Cyril Brennan and teenagers at the time. 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. Only concert I have ever been to where they had tee shirts for the guitarist in the band along with the band's shirts. Memorial Coliseum, now known as Coleman Coliseum. The Rolling Stones. (The station's nickname, "the Mighty 690," referred to its spot on the AM dial.). 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 . ", Looking back on it, Brennan realizes that bringing the Beatles to the Gator Bowl was a milestone event -- one firmly enshrined in Beatles lore and noted by Ron Howard in his 2016 documentary, "Eight Days a Week -- The Touring Years." The last concert at Big Bam Fall Spectacular was on September 30, 1966. "Times have changed so," said a wistful Peek, the Shower of Stars devotee. Both Shaw and Chapman have gone on to stardom as performers and songwriters.]. He wanted us to sign a management contract with him, but we were still under contract with Marshall and . "One of my favorites was RUSH 1981 Mobile Municipal Auditorium," said tgfmiss. In 1964 the Brennans Jacksonville, Florida station, WAPE, hosted the Beatles in concert at the Gator Bowl (see sidebar below). For more, visit Rich's YouTube Channel . Thousands of Beatles fans were ready to twist and shout in the Southeast, and the Brennan clan had made it happen. He showed up about five minutes before his show was to go on. A memorable night that I won't ever forget. 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. Solid show during a year held in very high regard by a large number of Deadheads. The . "There was a little one, and a big one, and we didn't know which was which," Brennan says. Many of the artists told me these were the biggest shows theyd ever done.. (The Beatles' popularity in the U.S. exploded in 1964, and that year's tour was a watershed moment for the band.). Cosmic Slop was classic, turned that mother out. 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. In most cases, the concertswere multi-act affairs, featuring the hottest names the radio stations could secure. "It cost enough that we were lucky to come out with just enough and break even with it," Brennan says. Signature songs include Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison), Cryin (Roy Orbison). 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 . Those two days in Alabama left a lasting impression on us because it was how we measured the rest of our gigs.. That way I could see the stars and hear the music better. Dan Brennan recalls the reaction from performers. ", From Steve Wayne: "Guns N' Roses at the Birmingham Race Course. I said, 'Well, you've got a choice here. It was a real happening thing.. 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. For fans, half the fun was trying for a glimpse of the stars at their hotel or coming to and from the coliseum. The Beach Boys. 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. Whitwam, now in his 47th year playing music, is pleased with the makeup of their current audiences. Big Bam Show . I was there both times. BOBBY GOLDSBORO. 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. They didn't come to hear me; they came to hear the Rolling Stones.'". 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. Most of the clubs have gone to a single performer, or a duo or karaoke. Wed go all over, even the Old Dutch in Panama City.. He must have played an hour and 20 minutes or more. Music lovers would line up at each venue, some arriving hours in advance, then rush inside to secure their favorite general-admission seats. "My brother, he was always a little bit of a gambler," Brennan says. "Little Feat at Boutwell mid 70s. There was always so much excitement surrounding the shows, Knapp said. Other notable former personalities included Bill J. Moody, Paul Simpkins, Mark Robbins, Gene Hocutt and Joe Cook. Thanks to Donnie Brennan for the Elvis photos. And the Brennans knew how to put on a show.. "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. 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). 0. blues show montgomery, al 2021. He said, 'We're going to put both of them on.' I never chased the stars around to hotels or anything. Gobs of people have asked us when were going to do another reunion. 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. The Big BAM Shows. Show Duplicate for Mar 22, 2013: Mar 08, 2013 Justin Moore: Garrett Coliseum: It made me feel good in a way, he said. ", Jerry Tavin/Photo courtesy of Everett Collection, From mcarter3: "Uhh. Where's Jimi Hendrix's concert at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1969? Hisconcertseries rocked their worlds and shaped their music tastes, in tandem with WVOK. 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). I think we had at least 15,000-16,000 people there. "We'd camp out at the door, on the steps and wait. 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. 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." Procedimientos. Keyboardist Mark Marvin will fill in for Eddie Wohlford who is unable to attend. The Who. They agreed to do it, but they were on one end of it, and the Beach Boys were on the other end of it. 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. ", From David Hester: "Eagles at Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville in 1975. It was everything. Shop Now The WMSP studios are located on the 3rd floor of . ", "I don't know if it has been mentioned yet, but for the Alabama Theater I would definitely include Warren Zevon's show in, what?.1986 or '87?, said earman1.