Birmingham Days

"Birmingham Days" was a promotion by downtown Birmingham merchants to promote shopping in the city center. The 1955 event culminated with an 11-act day-long concert bill at Municipal Auditorium featuring Alabama country groups. With heavy media promotion and contest prizes valued at $3,000, the concert draw a sell-out crowd of 5,300.

The line up included:

• Happy Wilson, Marion Worth and the Golden River Boys (WABT-TV, Birmingham)
• Happy Wainright and the Kings of the Hillbillies (WKRG-TV, Mobile)
• Jack Turner and band (WSFA-TV, Montgomery)
• Slim Lay and The Homefolks (WHBS-TV, Huntsville)
• Johnny Dougherty and the Happy Valley Boys (WMLS-AM, Sylacauga)
• Uncle Jim Atkins and his Barnyard Sweethearts (WBRC-TV, Birmingham)
• Malon Hurst and band (WBRC-TV, Birmingham)
• Old Red and the Tennessee River Boys (WOWL, Florence)
• Happy Hal Burns, Country Boy Eddie and the Country Cousins (WLBS-AM, Birmingham)
• Cousin Josh Rose with Arnold Morgan and the Echo Valley Boys (WHOS-AM, Decatur)
• Cowboy Williams and the Flying W Ranch Hands (WJLD-AM, Birmingham)
• Whitey Ford, the "Duke of Paducah", from the Grand Ole Opry, headlined the show

References

• Sach, Bill (November 12, 1955) "Folk Talent & Tunes (A mammoth free show...)" Billboard Vol. 67, No. 46, p. 121