Gabb107 Review of The T.A.M.I. Show

The T.A.M.I. Show (1964)

I was there when it was taped.

[21 January 2003]

I was just 16. I went to the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium that night with a friend to collect autographs from some of the bands. I got only one, Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys. (I lost it soon after getting it.) When we found out that we could get into see the concert free we quickly called our mothers and asked permission to stay to see the show. Lucky us, our mothers said yes. We had to wait in line until all of the people with tickets went in first then they let us in. Being young and couragous we didn't stay in the seats that they first ushered us into. By the time the second act came on we were in the very front of the stage on the right (as you face the stage). We were up close and personal with all of the acts. I was even caught on tape twice. Once over the shoulder of Jan and Dean and again at the end screaming my lungs out for the Stones. Although I have been to other concerts since, this one sticks in my mind for all of the groups that I saw that night. I love to tell the people I work with that I once went to a concert where I got to see Chuck Berry, Marvin Gay, The Supremes, who sang their current hit record "Baby Love", Leslie Gore, who sang every girls anthem "You Don't Own Me" as well as "It's My Party", Jan and Dean, The Beach Boys, who sang "Surfer Girl" just to me a surfer girl, Billy J Krame r, Gerry and the Pacemakers and James Brown, who did bring down the house with everyone on their feet screaming for an encore. Oh, yeah, I forgot. And the Rolling Stones. I am the envy of anyone who knows any of the music that was represented there. To be able to see musical history in the making.

I later saw the show, once in the theater and later in the early 70's when it was shown on TV. I never expected that my face would be seen screaming for the Stones yet there I was. A night I never want to forget. A night that changed my life, or at least my voice, forever.