"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. Most recently they performed earlier this year for a benefit show for ailing former bandmate Keith Brewer, who died in April of cancer. One was the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama, which was to host a concert on September 10 th. Anotherbrother, Bill Brennan, was the undisputed chief of the Jacksonville station, and had houses in Montgomery and Jacksonville. 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. Yet. And not just the concerts, but the whole experience building up to it. Or Nirvana at Boutwell in 1993?Or Roger McGuinn at Merrimack Hall in 2014? 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. He wanted us to sign a management contract with him, but we were still under contract with Marshall and . 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. The Byrds. That way I could see the stars and hear the music better. go to da moon copy and paste. "Put You Down" was written by lead guitarist Max Kendrick and vocalist Rich Gainer. "We'd camp out at the door, on the steps and wait. The Rogues of Montgomery, AL cut one great rock single, "Put You Down" b/w a version of "Stormy Monday Blues". 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. December 3, 1955-As an extra Bonus..here's the advertisement for sister station WBAM, Montgomery, AL, when the very young Elvis Presley appeared. ", From Cobb: "Buckingham Nicks in Morgan Auditorium Tuscaloosa Alabama Fall 1973.". It gave them a voice. A real commercial from the 60's with announcer Bill J Moody .Exciting times as a teen.growing up in Montgomery. Beavers has played drums for various bands, including Doc Severinson, Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett, winning a Grammy Award for Best Performance by Duo or Group in 1994 while a member of Asleep at the Wheel. The only multiple-act show in the country similar to what the Brennans offered were those produced by Dick Clark. recent post listing 31 of the greatest shows, according to this story by Madison Underwood, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Although he admits to anoccasional pang of longing, looking back on his previouscareer, Brennan is far from retired. All who attended the big September 19th show must present ticket stub at gate between 12 noon and 1PM. It was elbow to elbow in there, remembered drummer Tommy Beavers. ", From Jeremy Don McCollough: "Guns N' Roses played the Birmingham race course, it was a muddy mess. Ticket prices were never more expensive than $4.00. ", "Leo Kottke, Foster Auditorium, UA campus, about 1974," said 57939names. "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. Studio Phone Number: (334) 244-9898. Business Office/Studios 4101-A Wall Street Montgomery, AL 36106. He even did about 30 seconds of Sweet Home Alabama (that was before that song was worn out). In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero f. Home; My Books; Browse . From Denniswingo: "April 1977 was Led Zeppelin.famous because it was so totally over promoted with the K-99 disc jockeys claiming $100 scalped tickets (it was $7.50 ticket price). From Billy Bromberg: "Led Zeppelin 1973, Coleman Coliseum." "Radio played the song every twenty minutes. Can you believe it? "Billsaid, 'Well, if anybody makes any money out of it, it's going to be me.' There was a little jealousy there.". "I'm so old. "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.". at 3126 Jasmine Road, was built in the early 1960s by William J. All rights reserved (About Us). Wed ask them, Who would you like to see? Then wed select artists for the shows from this listener input.. Published by at February 16, 2022. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that. Fans also rushed to nominate their favorites when asked for feedback. The Fabulous Shades The venue? "The Stranger album had just come out and was only beginning to get some air play. I never chased the stars around to hotels or anything. "Marty Robbins came up to me, and he looked so sad," Brennan recalls. I said, 'Cyril, what do you think we ought to do?' The band has undergone several incarnations. The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC If it's all right with him, it's all right with me. . FUNK-ON. Wish I had gotten one. My personal favorite concert of all times was Billy Joel at the BJCC Concert Hall. Roy Orbison. Keyboardist Mark Marvin will fill in for Eddie Wohlford who is unable to attend. 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. By today's standards, his solution to the latter problemseems charmingly old-school. "I didn't stay up there too long," Brennan says, laughing. His clothes were all rumpled, and he said, 'Dan, I need to go on later in the show. It will be the first time theyve have been together since a reunion benefit at a local club in 2007. Patsy Cline. (The Beatles' popularity in the U.S. exploded in 1964, and that year's tour was a watershed moment for the band.). The bands would come in cars -- just plain old cars -- and they'd get their guitars out and walk past you. Keith Richards was almost electrocuted when his guitar grounded on a mic. +40 (724) 307.599 Lu - Vi: 9:00 - 18:00; big bam shows montgomery, alabama But in the minds of Alabama listeners, WVOK and WBAM ruled supreme, and the stations were closely linked by their concert series. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Uploaded 11 years ago Music 4; Photos 0; Interview . Of all the concerts I've been to in my lifetime, this one was the most memorable. The concertlater gained a secure foothold in Alabamamusic history -- fans here still ooh and aah about it -- but it wasn't a money-making proposition. ", From Steve Wayne: "Guns N' Roses at the Birmingham Race Course. I think we had at least 15,000-16,000 people there. A recent Skype video call to his U.K. home found Whitwam fondly remembering the Hermits Big BAM Show performances. Patsy Cline Performs Her Final Show Country Music Memories; Most Wanted Music: 2023's Country and Americana Album Releases; Follow Us. ", 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. This doesn't even scratch the surface! Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. "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. Their first gig was at the Wetumpka Recreation Center where admission was $1. We stayed at the same hotel as them. Deep South Broadcasting was the licensee of WBAM-AM, 740 kc with 50,000 watts daytime in Montgomery. ", From dassani: "I was there Could not have been better! 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. Think it was 1977," says Craigmo. Grier continued to sing with trios and orchestras, performing at wedding receptions and private parties. Their big prize was three VOX . Yes, the Beatles' performance was "a really big show," as Ed Sullivan wouldhave said. Paul Revere & the Raiders. It feels good. THE PROMOTIONAL POSTER OF THE WBAM, BIG BAM WINTER SPECTACULAR, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1967! Things changed a little bit after that. 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. Tickets were priced at$1.50-$5.50 per show, Brennan says, and artists' fees usually ran about $300-$7,500 per act. Roy Orbis. The entire show was magic, beginning with The Stranger and of course included many of the unknown Joel early songs. Here, then, is a readers' choice list of 31 awesome concerts in Alabama, culled from email, Facebook and comments on the original post. Joplin died on Oct. 4, 1970. He doesnt keep up with Johnny Townsend, but remains friends with Rusty Crumpton and Ed Sanford, who is a successful artist in Los Angeles. He kicked it off with (what else?) We came along at just the right time.. Those two days in Alabama left a lasting impression on us because it was how we measured the rest of our gigs.. 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. That's how we put together our shows. Clapton! The Show That Almost Happened With no sound checks between acts, group would run on stage and begin playing almost immediately. I'll never forget it. 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. "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. It was everything. Mosley tribes Lyndel . Props. "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 great! Ask anyone who was there. The other was Municipal Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, where a show had been set for September 15 th. Formed: 1963, Troy. This might have swelled a lesser man's head, but for Brennan, it was all about connecting with the listeners. He was a very special guy. He plays locally at Ruddles, Coaches Corner in Wetumpka, Young Barn Oyster Pub, and has recorded a CD. Procedimientos. "I'm so. Dan Brennan, center, backstage at the Shower of Stars with with Paul Revere & the Raiders. Just a few of the letters WBAM received from fans providing input into the acts they wished to see at the shows. ", Several readers mentioned Lynyrd Skynyrd as a given, pointing to various concerts throughout the state. ", 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. Otherwise . Despite her young age -- she was 7 that year -- Bartoletti felt another emotion at the Gator Bowl: extreme pride.