Jerry Lee Lewis. 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. Oh, and some guy named David on slide. "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. (The station's nickname, "the Mighty 690," referred to its spot on the AM dial.). Office Phone: (334) 244-0961 Office Fax: (334) 279-9563 Rick Peters - President / General Manager Jennifer Pestrichelli - Director of Sales Jay Scott - Operations Manager Shelby Ingram - Promotions Director Its effortless., Even after all these years, agreed Jones. Respi Mee Sup Sabahiiat. said donnna. December 3, 1955-As an extra Bonus..here's the advertisement for sister station WBAM, Montgomery, AL, when the very young Elvis Presley appeared. Im content where Im at, said Beavers, except I could lose about 80 pounds.. "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.". Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis were on the bill, said Whitwam of their first performance at Garrett Coliseum. "And that made a big difference, because people didn't have the opportunity to turn on the TV set and see these artists, after they'd been buying their records. 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. "Eight Days a Week -- The Touring Years. "My brother, he was always a little bit of a gambler," Brennan says. Men. Toni loved doing the show, but Daryl, who never enjoyed being on camera, did not. From Denniswingo: "Was there! The Buckinghams. Top (l-r), Keith Brewer, Ed Sanford and Sonny Grier. 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! 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. Beth Nielsen joined the group after Shaw left. A close second would be Yes at the Concert Hall in 2013. 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. 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. ", From TTownTony: "You cannot even imagine the concerts played in Tuscaloosa before the BJCC was built. ", Jerry Tavin/Photo courtesy of Everett Collection, From mcarter3: "Uhh. Where's Jimi Hendrix's concert at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1969? A memorable night that I won't ever forget. Birmingham on May 20, 1967. We do everything from Jerry Jeff Walker to the Grateful Dead to Van Morrison, says Pappas. "That was before he became very big. The Beatles in Alabama? Ticket prices were never more expensive than $4.00. Carl Perkins. "Lynyrd Skynyrd, after Montrose featuring Sammy Hagar July 4th, 1975 at Rickwood Field," said Bamabadger62. Hello? WVOK is now all-sports. In the 1960s and early 1970s, the station sponsored a series of pop/rock concerts known as "Big BAM Shows" featuring acts ranging from Paul Revere and the Raiders, Lou Christie, and The Beach Boys to comedian Pat Paulsen. In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero f. Home; My Books; Browse . There was this woman who was playing the bongos who literally passed out playing. Brennan and his wife, Clara, who handled ticketing, estimate that one-third of the tickets for any Shower of Stars datewere purchased on faith, before the lineup was ever announced. "There was a little office backstage, and I remember seeing my father and uncles back there with a security guard," Bartoletti says. 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. In most cases, the concertswere multi-act affairs, featuring the hottest names the radio stations could secure. By the time they came to get us we were pretty shozzeled.. on. That radio station had its concerts, too, dubbedJet-Fli Spectaculars, at the Soldiers &Sailors Memorial Auditorium. 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. He even did about 30 seconds of Sweet Home Alabama (that was before that song was worn out). He must have played an hour and 20 minutes or more. One was the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama, which was to host a concert on September 10 th. 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. Wish I had gotten one. JLL put on a hell of a show also. 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. 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 . 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. "It was rewarding, because people seemed to respond to some of the things I was doing. 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.". I tasted my first grits there my very first grit (laughs). "Marty Robbins came up to me, and he looked so sad," Brennan recalls. Paul Revere & the Raiders. Memorial Coliseum, now known as Coleman Coliseum. It is amazing to think that was 41 years ago. There are still a lot of local bands out there, said Sonny Grier, lead singer with the Rockin Gibraltars. "I remember the Rolling Stones came up to me, and they said, 'You don't really expect us to get into the same RV that the Beach Boys are in, do you?' Butspeaking in general terms, each also hada specialty: Bill the visionaryentrepreneur, Cyril the tech-mindedpioneer, Dan the key concert producer and a smooth, recognizable voice at WVOK. Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. One show in particular stands out. The only multiple-act show in the country similar to what the Brennans offered were those produced by Dick Clark. Rich Thomas Weather. Shop Patio & Garden, including exclusive patio furniture from brands like Broyhill. The primary reason for the shows was to keep a personal relationship with the listeners, said Dan Brennan, 81, former general manager at WVOK. Otherwise . We stayed at the same hotel as them. When was the last concert at Big Bam Fall Spectacular? Rare Earth. ", From Will-I: "Bruce Springsteen in Auburn in 1975. It was important to us.". (His moniker on the air: Dan the Music Man. Their big prize was three VOX . The band's management initially asked for 85 percent of the ticket proceeds or $25,000, whichever was greater, Brennan says. During a recent show some ladies, obviously a few years older than him, recognized Grier from the early Gibraltar days. Both stations played Top 40 hits of the day, and the concerts were the Brennans gifts to a loyal radio audience. . We only heard them. Procedimientos. A license for the station was issued in 1952. The bands that performed were: The Beach Boys / lou christie / Ian Whitcomb / The Happenings / the hollies / peter and gordon. Each episode had a specific theme, mission, or challenge which was accomplished by performing pranks, skateboarding, and enlisting the help of . Sonny Grier is another longtime Montgomery band member who still plays music. 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. The station's transmitter is located in the town of Grady, Alabama. Ticket prices were never more expensive than $4.00. ", From David Hester: "Eagles at Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville in 1975. WBAM Big Bam Shows Remembered 3,983 views Aug 25, 2013 A real commercial from the 60's with announcer Bill J Moody .Exciting times as a teen.growing up in Montgomery. Fans would mail their orders to the station, requesting a specific showtime, and the envelopes often included suggestions for artists they'd like to see. "Put You Down" was written by lead guitarist Max Kendrick and vocalist Rich Gainer. Joni Mitchell at Tuscaloosa 1975 would be third," said jarobertson. 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? Brother Cyril Brennan, 84, was alternately chief engineer, manager, program director and music director at WBAM and also involved in lining up talent. They changed their name to Heart before eventually folding. View the Full Page. 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. 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). It feels good. Tickets to these shows were typically $3 to $4. We had enough left over that, for a lot of our promotions after that, people would get free raincoats.". The Temptations and The Supremes, The TCB Tour, Auburn University, 1972. ", From Ken Cole: "I was at Jerry Lee Lewis in Boutwell in the mid '60s when I was a kid. People came from several states to see these shows. Then another. Thanks to Donnie Brennan for the Elvis photos. 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. Instead, the concert was held at the Gator Bowl under the auspices of the Brennans Jacksonville station WAPE, the Big APE. It was electric. It gave them a voice. Chuck Berry was an intro-act, great show he put on. Dislike Share. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that is rarely revealed within the pages of history texts. Some of the concerts took place in a single location -- most often, Jacksonville. I never chased the stars around to hotels or anything. Blue arcs of electricity knocked him unconscious and the show ended 15 minutes early. Submit a request Contact us through a specially prepared form. At least 25 people tried to jump the stage during the concert and were knocked backward into the crowd by gigantic stage bouncers! 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. WVOK used Legion Field as a test case that spring, Brennan says, to see if the Shower of Stars could work at Birmingham's largest venue. 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. 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 tall man aboriginal spirit; metadata api request failed: component conversion failed: file_ended; caleb foote sandlot 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. She remembers her father's words with startling clarity, along with the thrill she experiencedwhile sitting in the front row. The Rockin' Rebellions won top honors - beating out 67 other bands from throughout Alabama. "Play It All Night Long." For fans, half the fun was trying for a glimpse of the stars at their hotel or coming to and from the coliseum. Formed: 1963, Troy. (The Beatles' popularity in the U.S. exploded in 1964, and that year's tour was a watershed moment for the band.). Tommy James & Ed Sullivan. "Tuscaloosa Memorial Coliseum 1972," said Randy Palmer. 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. 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. At the time, Sonny was interested Cher's friend, not her. Neil Diamond. We get young people, folks our age, and older folks, he said proudly. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning It would be tough going back to ballrooms and small clubs after this. Mosley tribes Lyndel . 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. Iron Butterfly. I think he could call his own shots.". WMSP is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Keyboardist Mark Marvin will fill in for Eddie Wohlford who is unable to attend. 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). The Big BAM was WBAM, the 50,000-watt AM radio station owned by the Brennan family, whose other Alabama station was Birminghams WVOK. The original investors in the company were William J. The most entertaining act? 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. Emerson, Lake and Palmer in QUAD sound - Tuscaloosa circa 1973. Make Favorite Store Contact 1957 Cobbs Ford Rd. In Montgomery, music was the Big Bam show put on at Garrett Coliseum by WBAM, and there I saw Neil Diamond, the Buckinghams, Tommy James and the Shondells. 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. These are just a few of the acts presentedby the Brennans during the 1950s, '60s and early '70s. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. porsche cayman 987 bodykit; efficiencies for rent in riverview, fl. Gate Band Johnny Carson wanted him on The Tonight Show.Music fans were clamoring for the single and album that featured this emotion-filled song about a man in love with his wife, who planted a . big bam shows montgomery, alabama. Those two days in Alabama left a lasting impression on us because it was how we measured the rest of our gigs.. ", From Denniswingo: "The Grateful Dead in 1978 at the Boutwell Auditorium.
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