"Play It All Night Long." 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. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). That was one of my first big gigs - the Big BAM shows! By nature, talent and inclination, Brennanwasentirely suited to the family business; thousands of fans knew his voice and remembered his name. Members: Mitch Alton (original member), Gregg Pappas, Ham Wilson, Bill Marshall , Dwight Williams, Rick Byrd, Orville Cain, Carl Tesh. The stage was an immense rectangle glutted with scaffolding and hundreds of klieg lights and a sound system on a board that looked like the skyline of New York at night. Big Bam Show . 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. 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. The band's management initially asked for 85 percent of the ticket proceeds or $25,000, whichever was greater, Brennan says. Tickets cost $3 apiece. "Bill" Brennan, one of the owners of The Big Bam, Montgomery's renowned 50,000-watt radio station. Reactions to these picks -- made by entertainment reporters Matt Wake, Lawrence Specker and Mary Colurso -- ranged from praise to anger, support to dismay. I had to play the whole set standing up!. All rights reserved (About Us). The Beatles were paid a fee of $50,000 -- a hefty sum in those days, Brennan says -- and in the thick of the civil rights movement, the band's contract specified that they wouldn't perform for a segregated audience. The most entertaining act? Louise Brennan, Cyril's wife, at the Beatles' press conference in Jacksonville. WMSP (740 AM, Sports Radio 740) is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, USA. Shop Now Tickets were priced at$1.50-$5.50 per show, Brennan says, and artists' fees usually ran about $300-$7,500 per act. ", From Will-I: "Bruce Springsteen in Auburn in 1975. Its amazing the life we got to live.. Although he admits to anoccasional pang of longing, looking back on his previouscareer, Brennan is far from retired. They enjoy reminiscing about the stars, the shows and the fans who made it possible. The Fab Four wouldnt play to segregated audiences, and at that time this was the case in Alabama. Neither Tommy Shaw nor Beth Nielsen Chapman will be on hand due to their schedules. 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 . It was just the coolest thing.". Bob was producing a medical documentary in Alabama, and also was a promoter for Evil Kneival and Chill Wills. "We had to import parkas, raincoats from Taiwan, so that was our rain insurance," Brennan says, laughing. Jerry Lee Lewis, the Brennans said. J Jackie Culpepper 662 followers More information WBAM Big Bam Shows Remembered Record Case Montgomery Growing Up 60s Old Things Teen Memories Remember Videos He kicked it off with (what else?) Memorial Coliseum, now known as Coleman Coliseum. [2] Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning to sports talk under the WMSP callsign in 1995. Gobs of people have asked us when were going to do another reunion. The station's studios are . Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Uploaded 11 years ago Music 4; Photos 0; Interview . Disbanded in 66, reunited 76, returned to active performance 1991. The Other Side of Montgomery: Growing Up White in the Birthplace of the Once solo and once with a band. In 1964 the Brennans booked the Beatles for a concert in either Legion Field in Birmingham, or Garrett Coliseum or Crampton Bowl in Montgomery. Some of the concerts took place in a single location -- most often, Jacksonville. Clipping found in Alabama Journal in Montgomery, Alabama on Mar 24, 1966. Big Bam All-Star Spring Show Setlists | setlist.fm Gary Puckett & the Union Gap. The Byrds. As Brennan recalls it, the Beach Boys were paid $7,500 for their performance, and the Rolling Stones received $5,000. The mothership landed in the BJCC that night. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. WBAM-FM - ipfs.fleek.co (It was free.) 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. Just a few of the letters WBAM received from fans providing input into the acts they wished to see at the shows. Moody remembers Roy Orbison being one of the nicer, more polite performers, and the Grass Roots, Paul Revere and Buckinghams being easy to work with. When I got on stage the drum kit seat was way too high. "To go to the concerts was huge. 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. I was there both times. Originally licensed in 1953 as WBAM, the station broadcast contemporary and country music before turning We'd get hamburgers and bring them back, with someone always holding our place. He must have played an hour and 20 minutes or more. Show Hide article text (OCR) truly historic happening. Anybody remember that one? They had the Stones in about 1963-64, with Brian Jones before he died. We played all the way through college, says Long. 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. "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. Props. 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. (Photo courtesy of the Brennan family). Dylan with Brian Setzer Orchestra opening (about 1998 ?). "Tuscaloosa Memorial Coliseum 1972," said Randy Palmer. ", The Birmingham News file photo/Philip Barr. Now sales manager for a Dothan radio station, Moody fondly remembers working as a teenager at a 1959 WBAM concert featuring singer Connie Francis. ", From Denniswingo: "The Grateful Dead in 1978 at the Boutwell Auditorium. 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. ", From TTownTony: "You cannot even imagine the concerts played in Tuscaloosa before the BJCC was built. Lowell George in his prime," says Bingothatwuzagoody. We'd be there from the crack of dawn until midnight. I've seen so many good shows in Birmingham over the years! big bam shows montgomery, alabamasmart search field in safari. The Fabulous Shades The only multiple-act show in the country similar to what the Brennans offered were those produced by Dick Clark. April 8, 1967: State Coliseum, Montgomery, AL with Electric Prunes, Buckinghams, Lou Christie, Brian Hyland and The Jokers, Tommy James and The Shondells, Royal Guardsmen, The Blues Magoos, The Casinos and others "WBAM presents Big Bam All-Star Spring Show" April 14, 1967: University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA with Freudian Slip Procedimientos. "Hendrix, Joplin, the Who, Elvis, Dylan all played in Tuscaloosa," said Jeremy Don McCollough. 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. If it's all right with him, it's all right with me. Thats not to say Montgomery area favorite bands cant be seen any more. In the 1950s and '60s, Montgomery, Alabama, was ground zero f. The Other Side of Montgomery book. We were all so nervous we wore dark sunglasses so nobody could see how scared we were, said Dupree. The Buckinghams. Tommy James Interview: Singer Discusses His Autobiography 'Me, the Mob There are still a lot of local bands out there, said Sonny Grier, lead singer with the Rockin Gibraltars. ", From dassani: "I was there Could not have been better! The WVOK Shower of Stars was a series of concerts sponsored by WVOK-AM at the Birmingham Armory and later at Birmingham's Municipal Auditorium.Program director Dan Brennan organized the shows, which gained national notice.. Concerts. His current band, The Soul Crackas, does many of the same soul hits the Rockin Gibraltar performed. Both stations played Top 40 hits of the day, and the concerts were the Brennans' gifts to a loyal radio audience. The 8:30 p.m. show -- which happened in the windy aftermath of Hurricane Dora-- came courtesy of WAPE-AM, a radio station owned by the Brennan family. . The Righteous Brothers. For more, visit Rich's YouTube Channel . Johnny Cash. No mention does anyone else remember that?". Thomas, joined by John Kay (solo after leaving Steppenwolf), the Grass Roots and others. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Big Bam Fall Spectacular Concert History - Concert Archives The Rogues of Montgomery, AL cut one great rock single, "Put You Down" b/w a version of "Stormy Monday Blues". We do everything from Jerry Jeff Walker to the Grateful Dead to Van Morrison, says Pappas. 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. Wed ask them, Who would you like to see? Then wed select artists for the shows from this listener input.. 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!' "There was a police line for the Beatles to run through, and the stage was built up so people couldn't get to them.". Both stations played Top 40 hits of the day, and the concerts were the Brennans gifts to a loyal radio audience. 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. ", All three Brennan brothers were ambitious businessmen who worked as a team. Wed go all over, even the Old Dutch in Panama City.. A close second would be Yes at the Concert Hall in 2013. Instant Help Questions? 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. December 3, 1955-As an extra Bonus..here's the advertisement for sister station WBAM, Montgomery, AL, when the very young Elvis Presley appeared. And if we hadn't had (Hurricane Dora), we would have made a lot of money. Those two days in Alabama left a lasting impression on us because it was how we measured the rest of our gigs.. 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.