ABC In Concert
Encyclopedia
In Concert is a late-night television series created by Don Kirshner
. Hosted by Don E. Branker
, the series was a showcase for bands of the era to be taped "in concert" and then broadcast on ABC
on Friday nights.
. The first episode was the broadcast of a concert taped at Hofstra University
on September 21, 1972 with Alice Cooper
, Bo Diddley
and Seals & Crofts. The second episode, broadcast on December 8, 1972 and again preempting Cavett, featured The Allman Brothers Band
and Chuck Berry
. David Sontag became the Executive Producer of "In Concert" starting with the 3rd show and for the rest of the first season. Don Kirshner had no direct connection with the show after the second episode except that the production credits listed "In Concert" as a David Sontag Production and a Don Kirshner Production. Starting with the the 3rd episode there was no host. Joshua White (Joshua Lightshow) became the director and the voice over announcing the acts and serving as the production stage manager was Chip Monk often known as the voice of Woodstock.
In January 1973, both The Dick Cavett Show and In Concert became part of ABC's Wide World of Entertainment programming block. Kirshner left in late 1973 to produce the syndicated series Don Kirshner's Rock Concert
. In Concert continued to appear approximately every other Friday night until 1975 when it left the ABC schedule.
During its three seasons on the air, the series received four Primetime Emmy awards.
, Poison
) and more established acts (David Bowie
, Judas Priest
, Phil Collins
) and was simulcast in stereo on ABC radio stations. It was renamed ABC In Concert in January 1992 and had its final broadcast on September 11, 1998.
and featured performers such as Billy Ray Cyrus
, Travis Tritt
and Trisha Yearwood
. It completed its short run on August 10, 1994.
Don Kirshner
Don Kirshner , known as "The Man With the Golden Ear", was an American song publisher and rock producer who is best known for managing songwriting talent as well as successful pop groups, such as The Monkees, Kansas and The Archies.-Early life:Don Kirshner was born to Gilbert Kirshner, a tailor,...
. Hosted by Don E. Branker
Don E. Branker
-Early life:Branker grew up in Fresno. His father and uncle owned and operated Branker Brothers Cattle Co., one of the larger ranching operations in the San Joaquin Valley, until the 1960s when land buyouts by the oil companies cut down on the amount of grazing acreage.The family moved to Los...
, the series was a showcase for bands of the era to be taped "in concert" and then broadcast on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
on Friday nights.
In Concert
The series premiered on November 24, 1972, preempting The Dick Cavett ShowThe Dick Cavett Show
The Dick Cavett Show has been the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various television networks, including:* ABC daytime ...
. The first episode was the broadcast of a concert taped at Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
on September 21, 1972 with Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
, Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
and Seals & Crofts. The second episode, broadcast on December 8, 1972 and again preempting Cavett, featured The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band is an American rock/blues band once based in Macon, Georgia. The band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman , who were supported by Dickey Betts , Berry Oakley , Butch Trucks , and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe"...
and Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
. David Sontag became the Executive Producer of "In Concert" starting with the 3rd show and for the rest of the first season. Don Kirshner had no direct connection with the show after the second episode except that the production credits listed "In Concert" as a David Sontag Production and a Don Kirshner Production. Starting with the the 3rd episode there was no host. Joshua White (Joshua Lightshow) became the director and the voice over announcing the acts and serving as the production stage manager was Chip Monk often known as the voice of Woodstock.
In January 1973, both The Dick Cavett Show and In Concert became part of ABC's Wide World of Entertainment programming block. Kirshner left in late 1973 to produce the syndicated series Don Kirshner's Rock Concert
Don Kirshner's Rock Concert
Don Kirshner's Rock Concert is a television music variety show that ran during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Don Kirshner and syndicated to television stations...
. In Concert continued to appear approximately every other Friday night until 1975 when it left the ABC schedule.
During its three seasons on the air, the series received four Primetime Emmy awards.
ABC In Concert
The series was revived in 1991 under the name ABC's In Concert. It featured a mixture of newer performers (Alice in ChainsAlice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
, Poison
Poison (band)
Poison is an American glam metal band that achieved great success in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. To date, Poison has sold over 30 million records worldwide and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone. The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100,...
) and more established acts (David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
, Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
) and was simulcast in stereo on ABC radio stations. It was renamed ABC In Concert in January 1992 and had its final broadcast on September 11, 1998.
ABC In Concert Country
Created as a country/western counterpart to ABC In Concert, ABC In Concert Country premiered on June 4, 1994. It was hosted by Billy DeanBilly Dean
William Harold "Billy" Dean, Jr. is an American country music singer and songwriter. Billy Dean first gained national attention after appearing on the television talent competition Star Search...
and featured performers such as Billy Ray Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus
William "Billy" Ray Cyrus is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist, who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon...
, Travis Tritt
Travis Tritt
James Travis Tritt is an American country music singer from Marietta, Georgia. He signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1989, releasing seven studio albums and a greatest hits package for the label between then and 1999. In the 2000s, he released two albums on Columbia Records and one for the defunct...
and Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood
Patricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...
. It completed its short run on August 10, 1994.