Deep South was incorporated in late July of 1950 with a capitalization of $60,000. It was everything. Montgomery's home for country music favorites like Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert . "Lynyrd Skynyrd, after Montrose featuring Sammy Hagar July 4th, 1975 at Rickwood Field," said Bamabadger62. There are still a lot of local bands out there, said Sonny Grier, lead singer with the Rockin Gibraltars. 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. He doesnt keep up with Johnny Townsend, but remains friends with Rusty Crumpton and Ed Sanford, who is a successful artist in Los Angeles. Id never seen anybody get an audience so excited, Dan Brennan remembered. We do everything from Jerry Jeff Walker to the Grateful Dead to Van Morrison, says Pappas. The chips were glued into Dianes scrap book between photos of the Beatles. Yet there was also a gentler side of the city that is rarely revealed within the pages of history texts. 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. 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. "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. Mountain 1971," said Billy Bromberg. We only heard them. FACIAL. White guys playing soul music!, Most of the stuff we played was music you could easily dance to, said Dupree. Dan Brennan, center, with the Grass Roots. 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. Tickets to these shows were typically $3 to $4. Anybody else remember seeing Joplin in Tuscaloosa? Things changed a little bit after that. His family owned WBAM in Montgomery, and WVOK in Birmingham, both 50,000 watt clear channels stations back in the day. Read reviews from world's largest community for readers. WBAM signed on in 1953 as AM 740. ", From Will-I: "Bruce Springsteen in Auburn in 1975. The original investors in the company were William J. ", From Jeremy Don McCollough: "Guns N' Roses played the Birmingham race course, it was a muddy mess. 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. REENADED . "I think the story about Buckingham Nicks is pretty interesting. I was there both times. The Fab Four wouldnt play to segregated audiences, and at that time this was the case in Alabama. Some of the items will go on exhibit starting Thursday at the Alabama. The other name band on the show was the Allman Brothers, they had just released their first album. The entire show was magic, beginning with The Stranger and of course included many of the unknown Joel early songs. These are just a few of the acts presentedby the Brennans during the 1950s, '60s and early '70s. 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. Date:Sun, 5 Jun 2005 09:12:45 -0400 I'll tell you a story about that WBAM show in Montgomery. (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). Bottom (l-r), Ronnie Monroe, Bobby Dupree and Rusty Crumpton. 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. "Best concert I caught in this state was at Memorial Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1978 Lowell George and Little Feat. Any of the Yes shows in Birmingham! Gary Puckett & the Union Gap. ", From Don Haley Benson: "Bruce Springsteen Born in the USA! ", Jerry Tavin/Photo courtesy of Everett Collection, From mcarter3: "Uhh. Where's Jimi Hendrix's concert at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa in 1969? The Rogues recorded the 45 in February of 1966, for MBM Records, a Birmingham, Alabama label that goes back to the early '60s. Lowell George in his prime," says Bingothatwuzagoody. ", From GmanGent: "Alice Cooper Von Braun in 1974's Welcome to my Nightmare Tourone of the most successful tours financially up until that time. 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. A close second would be Yes at the Concert Hall in 2013. "Play It All Night Long." [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. He was replaced by Johnny Townsend from Tuscaloosa, who was living with Duane and Gregg Allman in LA. 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. Brennan estimates that 16,000-17,000 people came to Legion Field for the show, fulfilling the radio station's mission but falling short of blockbuster status. Music lovers would line up at each venue, some arriving hours in advance, then rush inside to secure their favorite general-admission seats. I've seen so many good shows in Birmingham over the years! "We all felt very privileged," Bartoletti says. From Sell it to the tourists: "I saw an amazing Harry Chapin show at the BJCC Concert Hall in around 1978? 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. Formed: 1972, Tuscaloosa. ", From UABMBA: "One of the greatest concerts in Alabama was The Rolling Stones with Chuck Berry at Auburn Memorial Coliseum, November 14, 1969. "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. Solid show during a year held in very high regard by a large number of Deadheads. One big favorite, however, appears to be a '70s date at Legion Field. From:"Rodney Justo" To:"robert register" Subject:Re: HEY EL NIXO! Go to the Archives 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. "Fairgrounds Bham. They enjoy reminiscing about the stars, the shows and the fans who made it possible. I believe that city has a particular significance to you. 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 other was Municipal Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, where a show had been set for September 15 th. ", From StolibGeezer: "Zevon played the Alabama twice. We were considered the number one soul band in the south. The following year 13 acts played in WVOKs Shower of Stars show at Legion Field in Birmingham. The station's studios are . The Beach Boys. A memorable night that I won't ever forget. The Fabulous Shades, 1965. Hendrix only played a limited number of concerts before he died and the one in Tuscaloosa blew the top off Memorial Coliseum. WBAM-FM/98.9 ("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. "It was quite a thing.". 2. Brother Cyril Brennan, 84, was alternately chief engineer, manager, program director and music director at WBAM and also involved in lining up talent. "My brother, he was always a little bit of a gambler," Brennan says. 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. "To go to the concerts was huge. The most popular group, both Brennan brothers agree, was Hermans Hermits (see sidebar below). "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. With no sound checks between acts, group would run on stage and begin playing almost immediately. One was the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama, which was to host a concert on September 10 th. Fans also rushed to nominate their favorites when asked for feedback. From Denniswingo: "Was there! Pitiful (Otis Redding) sound so much better with real horns.. Many who danced the night away to the Rockin Gibraltars or who nursed a beer and smoked a cigarette listening to Harmony, recall those days with particular fondness and with nostalgia for a time that wont likely return. "Tuscaloosa Memorial Coliseum 1972," said Randy Palmer. 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. Toni loved doing the show, but Daryl, who never enjoyed being on camera, did not. All who attended the big September 19th show must present ticket stub at gate between 12 noon and 1PM. HOW COME PAUL GODDARD PUSHES HIS GLASSES UP THE BRIDGE OF HIS NOSE? Ask anyone who was there. Clayton, Hayward and Gradney. Brennanleft the radio business for good in 1982. "Ringo said, 'I'm not getting up there unless you build me a bannister around this thing.' Iron Butterfly. The Big BAM Shows. After helping escort her safely away from an unruly crowd, she rewarded him with a big kiss. Big Bam Show . The Temptations and The Supremes, The TCB Tour, Auburn University, 1972. ", From TTownTony: "You cannot even imagine the concerts played in Tuscaloosa before the BJCC was built. They had the Stones in about 1963-64, with Brian Jones before he died. The Rolling Stones. "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. 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!' 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. 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! "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. Birmingham on May 20, 1967. Hank Williams was another frequent live on-air performer. They didn't come to hear me; they came to hear the Rolling Stones.'". "I'm so. Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. Props. But it never happened. Readers shared fond memories of June Jam, the annual music festival that ran 1982-1997. Hisconcertseries rocked their worlds and shaped their music tastes, in tandem with WVOK. Bell. People would come night after night, said Lander, who owns Bama Lanes in Montgomery and Prattville. ", From Eric Pendergrass: "Grateful Dead BJCC April 4,5 1995.". 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. Tickets cost $3 apiece. The Quad show was FREE! 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. One show in particular stands out. 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. In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero f. Home; My Books; Browse . In 1964 the Brennans Jacksonville, Florida station, WAPE, hosted the Beatles in concert at the Gator Bowl (see sidebar below). One of its earliest Big BAM Shows featured Elvis Presley as he ascended to fame, on the same bill with Roy Acuff. The Hollies. Deep South Broadcasting was the licensee of WBAM-AM, 740 kc with 50,000 watts daytime in Montgomery. Despite her young age -- she was 7 that year -- Bartoletti felt another emotion at the Gator Bowl: extreme pride. 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). We stayed at the same hotel as them. Instant Help Questions? We had a fabulous time.. Both stations played Top 40 hits of the day, and the concerts were the Brennans' gifts to a loyal radio audience. Cyril's wife Louise would make us outfits for the Shower of Stars, and we'd have on these big bell bottoms. 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. In Brennan's view, that's a satisfying legacy. 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 . . From what we can tell, she appeared there in 1970, but the story mentions Dec. 3, 1970, as the date of her show. Beth Nielsen joined the group after Shaw left. Thanks to Donnie Brennan for the Elvis photos. Big Bam Fall Spectacular has had 1 concert. big bam shows montgomery, alabamasmart search field in safari. By the time we got to the steps of the BJCC a guy had a shoebox full of tickets that he was trying to sell for a buck each. Fees for the other acts were in the $300-$400 range, he says. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The Big BAM was WBAM, the 50,000-watt AM radio station owned by the Brennan family, whose other Alabama station was Birminghams WVOK. 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.. Readers of AL.com have plenty of ideas. I tasted my first grits there my very first grit (laughs). We'll have to ask him. Thats not to say Montgomery area favorite bands cant be seen any more. 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! 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. +40 (724) 307.599 Lu - Vi: 9:00 - 18:00; big bam shows montgomery, alabama He even did about 30 seconds of Sweet Home Alabama (that was before that song was worn out). The Louvin Brothers. The show is a spin-off from MTV 's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast appeared. 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? the tall man aboriginal spirit; metadata api request failed: component conversion failed: file_ended; caleb foote sandlot It will be the first time theyve have been together since a reunion benefit at a local club in 2007. Bobby Dupree (L) and Sonny Grier of the Rockin' Gibraltars. The Rockin' Rebellions won top honors - beating out 67 other bands from throughout Alabama. 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. Big Bam Show. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the broadcast license is held by Cumulus Licensing LLC. He must have played an hour and 20 minutes or more. It was electric. Mosley tribes Lyndel . 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. The largest universities in Montgomery, AL are Auburn University at Montgomery (975 degrees awarded in 2020), Faulkner University (844 degrees), and Alabama State University (712 degrees). "We'd camp out at the door, on the steps and wait. 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). "What's that Frank Sinatra song? He wants to go on late in the show.' Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park 52 Theaters Parks By Meowy "It cost enough that we were lucky to come out with just enough and break even with it," Brennan says. "(Listeners) would tell us what they liked and didn't like. 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.
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