A Capitol Fourth Celebrates 35 Years As America's National Independence Day Celebration Live From The U.S. Capitol!

- Led by Pop Superstar Barry Manilow, All-Star Cast Joins PBS' A CAPITOL FOURTH Featuring Performances by Alabama, Nicole Scherzinger, Hunter Hayes, Meghan Linsey, KC and the Sunshine Band, Lang Lang, Ronan Tynan, Robert Davi and the National Symphony Orchestra -

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Capital Concerts

Jun 15, 2015, 10:07 ET

WASHINGTON, June 15, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Celebrating 35 spectacular years on air, A CAPITOL FOURTH will kick off the country's 239th birthday with an all-star musical extravaganza that puts viewers front and center for the greatest display of fireworks anywhere in the nation. Music legend Barry Manilow will headline the gala anniversary celebration, opening and closing the concert broadcast with a special patriotic medley. Broadcast live on PBS from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, the star spangled party will also feature performances by: the most successful country music group of all time, Alabama; Grammy nominated singer/songwriter, with over 70 million album sales, Nicole Scherzinger; five-time Grammy nominee, CMA Award winner and multi-instrumentalist Hunter Hayes; vocal powerhouse Meghan Linsey (THE VOICE); Grammy award-winning and multi-platinum selling band, fronted by the Founder of the Dance Revolution, KC and the Sunshine Band; world renowned piano virtuoso Lang Lang; and inspirational classical cross-over global star and Irish tenor Ronan Tynan; with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly. In celebration of American icon Frank Sinatra's 100th birthday, the award-winning star of film, television and the concert stage Robert Davi will pay tribute to Ol' Blue Eyes. The 35th annual broadcast of A CAPITOL FOURTH airs on PBS Saturday, July 4, 2015 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network. The program can also be heard live in stereo over NPR member stations nationwide.

Five-time Grammy nominee and multi-instrumentalist Hunter Hayes joins the line-up for the 35th annual broadcast of A CAPITOL FOURTH on PBS Saturday, July 4, 2015 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET.

The top-rated, award-winning extravaganza features twenty cameras positioned around the city, including the U.S. Capitol, the White House and the Washington Monument. Capping off the show will be a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" complete with live cannon fire provided by the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery, an audience favorite and A CAPITOL FOURTH tradition.

Also participating in the event will be the Choral Arts Society of Washington, Patrick Lundy & The Ministers of Music, the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, the U.S. Army Ceremonial Band, Members of the Armed Forces carrying the State and Territorial Flags and the Armed Forces Color Guard provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.

The program is a co-production of Jerry Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C. Executive producers Jerry Colbert and Michael Colbert have assembled an award-winning production team that features the top Hollywood talent behind some of television's most prestigious entertainment awards shows. This includes: Emmy award-winning producer Walter C. Miller, whose credits include the GRAMMY AWARDS and COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS; award-winning director Paul Miller whose credits include THE COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE; and veteran television writer Jon Macks whose credits include the TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO, the ACADEMY AWARDS and the EMMY AWARDS.

About Capital Concerts
Capital Concerts is the production force behind two of television's longest-running and highest-rated live programs commemorating America's most important holidays. THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT, the nation's tribute to our men and women in uniform, and A CAPITOL FOURTH, our country's biggest birthday party, have become American traditions that have consistently ranked among the highest rated programs on PBS over the past decade. The holiday specials have been honored with over 70 awards including the New York Film Festival Award, the Telly Award, the Golden Cine Award, the Videographer Award, the National Education Association Award, the Aurora Award, the Christopher Award, the Communicator's Award, the AXIEM Award, the Omni Award and the Writer's Guild of America Award.

Underwriters
A CAPITOL FOURTH is made possible by grants from The Boeing Company, the National Park Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Department of the Army, PBS and public television stations nationwide. Air travel is provided by American Airlines.

For images and additional information, visit PBS Pressroom at www.pbs.org/pressroom.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150612/222784

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