The first show actually ever stored regarding Coliseum, months after the venue’s March 1964 opening, checked the latest Four Freshmen while the Four Preps. (That has been web, obviously, this new Greek Times let you know.) The brand new Four Seasons performed the initial Homecoming performance here in the October ’64 (my good friend Mindy Moore Bacon recalls going, regardless of if she was only into the junior large), and you will Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong produced their All stars indeed there for a free show inside the February 1965, adopted three weeks after from the Johnny Mathis as well as the Younger Us citizens.
Ended up with the a beneficial guy’s shoulders watching the amazing reveal
Because of complaints concerning the music within earlier reveals, the fresh college earned Atlanta-founded Baker Sounds (which in fact had over This new Beatles’ 1965 tell you during the Atlanta Stadium) to try and improve voice to possess Armstrong, however,, contrary to popular belief, around wasn’t much they might carry out concerning the cavernous stadium.
I inquired folks We visited college with – although some whom grew up in Athens or went along to UGA – to generally share a common concert thoughts regarding the let you know. Check out of those thoughts:
My personal classmate Tom Hodgson said the fresh Coliseum performance the guy appeared forward towards really are Jerry Butler singing their moves regarding “The latest Frost Man Cometh,” plus “Just the Good Endure.” Tom told you the guy recalls “Jerry, sporting a light fit which have an excellent quartet out-of stunning feminine singing equilibrium trailing. Really don’t contemplate whom my personal go out was, however, she wanted I happened to be since chill just like the Jerry Butler, and i also however desired she is actually given that hot while the people vocalists.”
Likewise, Sam Heys mentioned that “my favorite and most long-lasting recollections is the fresh Jerry Butler Homecoming performance for the Oct. 24, 1969, while the my blind time, Pat Finley, has been beside me more an one half-century afterwards.”
Betz Tillitski has stunning memories of this 1973 show by the Allman Brothers, claiming the within of your own arena resembled a huge bong. “We got seated and the lights dimmed and you can, boy, was We surprised to see these types of strange flickers away from white most of the across the set. Such as tobacco although flame resided brighter longer. I didn’t discover I happened to be watching bones getting illuminated. Not ever been near a joint in advance of. Everyone was passing these up to. After that you to unusual however, nice smell try every-where. I thought I was within Woodstock. From the assured my mothers failed to smell they to my dresses whenever i had domestic.”
But, she said, “the essential fun show I attended there’s from the springtime out of 1974, and that i spotted the new Coasters, The latest Platters while the Tams. Stood on to the floor prior to the stage moving the new entire go out. ”
I remember thinking, ‘Ok, so can be your gonna reimburse the money you’re paid off to possess a speed you are not giving?
Not too all reveals on Coliseum was a triumph. Dan Pelletier recalls the evening Karen and you may Richard Carpenter “have been stinking within the shared and audience booed, very Richard moved off of the phase inside a beneficial huff. Karen came out and spoke for some of your kept group and informed me they’d already been while on the move and you can was indeed worn out. ‘ No refund obtained.”
My later buddy Rusty Gunn, who grabbed some of the photo associated that it bit, told me a few years right back that 1st let you know on new Coliseum is actually when he is actually good junior within the high school, and he and some family took dates observe Absolutely nothing Stevie Question together with Temptations. (Helen Castronis remembers Ponder nonetheless try billed just like the “Nothing Stevie” at that time, and that it appeared like “he starred all tool into the phase.”)