The Concert
THE PERFORMERS
A Capitol Fourth 2007 features performances from some of the country's best known and award-winning musical artists:
- Tony Danza
- Elliott Yamin
- Yolanda Adams
- Little Richard
- Dierks Bentley
- Hayden Panettiere
- Bebe Neuwirth
- Erich Kunzel
- The National Symphony Orchestra
- Choral Arts Society of Washington
- Military District of Washington
- U.S. Army Herald Trumpets
- United States Army Presidential Salute Battery
Tony Danza
Tony Danza is indisputably one of America’s most popular performers, having starred on some of television’s most beloved and longest-running series, from Taxi to Who’s the Boss. Danza also has established himself as a stage and screen star, and as a respected entertainer. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he received a wrestling scholarship to the University of Dubuque in Iowa, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history education. Discovered at a boxing gymnasium in New York, Danza was ultimately cast in the critically acclaimed series Taxi, which earned him a place in television history. A starring role in the ABC comedy series Who’s the Boss? followed. Danza directed several episodes of the show, which ran for eight seasons. Danza recently completed an exciting run on Broadway in as Max Bialystock in Mel Brooks’ hit musical The Producers, and will reprise that role in the Las Vegas production at the Paris Las Vegas Theater beginning August 13. Danza entered the world of daytime television with The Tony Danza Show, a talk show that blended celebrity interviews, human-interest stories, cooking and audience participation and was broadcast live from New York. Danza’s other television credits include the series Family Law and The Practice (for which he received an Emmy nomination) and Showtime’s remake of 12 Angry Men, Noah and Hudson Street, among other specials. Danza hosted the 2001 Miss America Pageant and the 2003 People’s Choice Awards. On the big screen, Danza appeared in the critically acclaimed feature film Crash and starred in Disney’s Angels in the Outfield with Danny Glover, in She’s Out Of Control and in Frank Rainore’s action drama A Brooklyn State of Mind with Vincent Spano, Danny Aiello and Maria Grazia Cucinotta. On stage, Danza earned an Outer Critic’s Circle Award nomination for his theatrical debut in Wrong Turn at Lungfish. He received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Rocky the bartender in the Broadway revival of Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh opposite Kevin Spacey. Danza’s debut album, The House I Live In (2003), includes his well-received single of the same name, which Billboard magazine selected as the adult contemporary pick of the week. The album also features Danza’s versions of many of the classics he grew up with, including That’s All, Pennies from Heaven, Goodnight My Love, I’ll Be Seeing You and a compelling version of Little Child (Daddy Dear), sung with his daughter Emily. Danza resides in New York and Los Angeles.
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Elliot Yamin
Before Yamin finished third in the fifth season of American Idol (in a historically close race behind Taylor Hicks and Katherine McPhee), the ever-prickly Simon Cowell deemed him "potentially the best male vocalist in the history of American Idol." With the release of his debut album, Elliott Yamin (this past March), few will believe this accomplished vocalist was once too embarrassed to sing out in his middle-school choir class. Twenty-eight year old Yamin was born in LA to an Israeli father of Iraqi Jewish descent and an American Jewish mother. They moved to Richmond, VA when he was 10, and he now calls himself "most definitely a southern boy." Yamin, who came to Idol an underdog with no vocal training and no real performance experience, had to cope as a child with near-deafness in his right ear and the discovery, at age 16, thathe has Type 1 diabetes. At Idol, Yamin was guest-coached by Stevie Wonder, who encouraged him to pursue a career in music. With that validation, Yamin says he "finally figured it out … I'm a singer!" Yamin is currently on a national tour in support of his self-titled debut CD that will wind up in CA in mid-June.
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Yolanda Adams
Working with some of the biggest names in pop, R&B, hip-hop and
Gospel, Yolanda Adams's career has been marked by a string of hugely
successful albums, sold-out tours, stand-out TV appearances and a
desire to incorporate many genres and influences into her music. This
Grammy-winning Gospel/Adult Contemporary superstar and lifelong
Houston resident grew up in a household filled with spirit, soul and
song. Her mother studied music, and Adams and her five younger
siblings heard everything from jazz to classical to rhythm and blues.
Word of her talent reached the close-knit Gospel music community, and
before long the former schoolteacher caught the attention of the
prolific composer/producer Thomas Whitfield. With his assistance,
Adams recorded Just As I Am on a small Gospel label in 1987. In 1991,
Through The Storm earned her several Stellar Awards, and four years
later, the R&B-infused More Than a Melody garnered Adams her first
Soul Train Lady of Soul Award and Grammy nomination. In 1996, Yolanda
... Live In Washington brought another Stellar Award and Grammy
nomination, and led to Adams’s signing with Elektra Records. Her
first release on that mainstream powerhouse was the groundbreaking
Mountain High …Valley Low (1999). Working with such A-list
producers as Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and Keith Thomas, Adams crossed
over to urban music without watering down or compromising her message.
Both fans and critics took notice: the album went multi-platinum,
received the Grammy in 2000 for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album
and the first American Music Award for Inspirational Artist of the
Year, won several Stellar Awards and spawned the successful Sisters in
the Spirit Tour. That journey – also featuring Shirley Caesar,
Mary Mary and Angela Christie – became the inspiration for
Adams's acclaimed second live collection, The Experience. That same
year she released her first holiday album, Christmas with Yolanda
Adams, and in 2001, she recorded the richly satisfying Believe. That
album – like the newest effort, Day by Day, recorded in 2005, reunited
Adams with the innovative group of producers who had created Mountain
High Valley Low. Day by Day marks Adams's first album for Atlantic
Records.
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Little Richard
Exploding into the American consciousness in the mid-1950's, Little
Richard single-handedly laid the foundation and established the rules
for a new musical form: rock and roll. Born and raised in Macon,
Georgia, Richard Wayne Penniman began singing in his local church
choir while still a youngster. After winning a talent contest, he
signed with RCA Records in 1951 and released two singles. Returning to
his job washing dishes in a Greyhound bus station, Richard sent a demo
to Specialty Records in Los Angeles. The song, Tutti Frutti, was his
catalyst for success and led to an uninterrupted run of smash hits:
Long Tall Sally, Rip It Up, Lucille, Jenny, Jenny and Good Golly, Miss
Molly. By 1968, Little Richard had sold more than 32 million records
internationally. After a self-imposed hiatus at the peak of his
career, Little Richard charged back onto the scene with rave reviews
for his appearance in the Down and Out in Beverly Hills, which also
launched his hit single Great Gosh A Mighty. Richard was inducted into
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and began a series of
performances and appearances that have since surpassed his earlier
successes, encompassing recording projects, television, film,
soundtracks and commercials. He was honored with a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990 and in 1993, received the Lifetime
Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and
Sciences. The following year he accepted the Rhythm & Blues
Foundation's prestigious Pioneer Award. In 1997, he was presented with
the distinguished Award of Merit at the American Music Awards in
recognition of his contributions to and powerful influence on the
music world. Driven by a hard-to-match energy that lends credence to
his “wild man of rock and roll” image, Little Richard
continues to make his mark on music history, delighting fans worldwide
with his unique blend of music, humor and caring.
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Dierks Bentley
In the last few years, Dierks Bentley has emerged as one of the
hottest young stars in country music. Recordings by the Phoenix-born
guitar slinger have reached new sales heights. He has toured with the
likes of Kenny Chesney and George Strait, joined the Grand Ole Opry,
and collaborated with George Jones. With two platinum albums –
Dierks Bentley (2003) and the chart-topping Modern Day Drifter (2005) – and a long list of honors, he has established
himself as one of today’s most acclaimed musical artists. In
just one year, Bentley went from winning the 2005 CMA Horizon Award to
receiving a 2006 Male Vocalist of the Year nomination. With the
release of his latest album, Long Trip Alone, Bentley keeps that
momentum rolling, building on the rock-solid base he’s been
amassing while expanding his music with newfound range and depth.
Every Mile a Memory, the first single from Long Trip Alone, shot
straight to number one on the country singles charts. To document the
live Dierks Bentley experience, he recently shot and released a DVD at
Denver’s Fillmore Auditorium. Dierks Bentley is still pushing
himself as a singer, songwriter, musician and performer, moving beyond
the reputation of a promising talent or a rising star to become a true
career artist.
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Hayden Panettiere
Hayden Panettiere has an impressive resume of feature film, television, animation and commercial credits have made her name synonymous with “rising star.” Currently starring in the fantastically popular NBC Television drama Heroes, Panettiere has been cast in the unique and challenging role of a high school cheerleader who is literally indestructible. The NBC series is already a qualified critical and audience hit. Hayden's film credits are equally impressive. She recently completed filming Fireflies in the Garden opposite Julia Roberts, Willem Dafoe and Emily Watson for Senator Intl. Directed by Dennis Lee, the story explores the complexities of love and commitment in a family torn apart when faced with an unexpected tragedy. Panettiere also starred in the independent feature The Architect opposite Anthony LaPaglia and Isabella Rosselini and in Mr. Gibb, costarring Bill Sadler and Tim Daly, for Kevin Spacey's company Triggerstreet. Other film credits include a dazzling turn as a competitive ice skater in Ice Princess;a challenging leading role as a jockey in Warner Brothers' Racing Stripes opposite the voices of Dustin Hoffman and Whoopi Goldberg; and spitfire characters in Joe Somebody as Tim Allen's daughter, and in Remember the Titans, as Denzel Washington’s costar. Panettiere’s voice was also recognizable as Princess Dot in the delightful animated feature A Bug's Life and as Suri in Disney's Dinosaurs. Her work in A Bug's Life Read-A-Long earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Album as well as a nomination for The Hollywood Reporter's Young Star Award for Best Young Voiceover Talent. Panettiere has recently been spending time in the recording studio working on her own CD debut from Hollywood Records due out in the fall. Hayden is an Ambassador for the ICUN Wildlife Foundation and has recently joined forces with Pierce Brosnan to save the whales through the Whaleman Foundation.
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Bebe Neuwirth
Award-winning theatre, television and film actress Bebe Neuwirth received a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Distinguished Performance of the Year Award and an Astaire Award for her performance as Velma in the Broadway production of Chicago. She recently returned to the show as Roxie, making her the only Broadway star to play both leading lady roles. She received a Tony Award for her portrayal of Nickie in Sweet Chariot. Other Broadway credits include Fosse, Damn Yankees, Dancin, Little Me and A Chorus Line. Neuwirth also has played leading roles in regional productions, including Anita in West Side Story for the Cleveland Opera, the title role in Kiss of the Spiderwoman on London's West End, Jenny in The Threepenny Opera at A.C.T. in San Francisco and Katherine in The Taming of the Screw at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts. Off-Broadway, her versatility has led to roles in a Richard Greenberg play at Lincoln Center and a Woody Allen play at the Atlantic Theater Company, as well as to an evening of singing and dancing in Here Lies Jenny (music by Kurt Weill)at the Zipper Theatre. Neuwirth played in the comedy revues Upstairs at O’Neal’s and Showing Off. She recently has appeared with symphony orchestras around the country singing the music of Kurt Weill and Kander & Ebb. She is well known to television audiences for her portrayal of Lilith in Cheers, for which she received two Emmy Awards. Other TV appearances include her Emmy-nominated portrayal of Dorothy Parker in Dash & Lily and a starring role in the series Law & Order: Trial by Jury. Her film work includes Liberty Heights, Summer of Sam, Celebrity, Jumanji, Malice, Say Nothing, Green Card, The Faculty, The Paint Job, Bugsy and Tadpole. She has also provided voices for several cartoon characters in both TV and film. Bebe Neuwirth is proud to be an Honorary Zeigfeld Girl.
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Erich Kunzel
Erich Kunzel’s distinguished career is personified by his 2006 National Medal of Arts, presented by President and Mrs. Bush in a ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House. The National Medal of Arts, the highest honor given to artists and arts patrons by the U. S. Government, is awarded to those who have made outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts in the United States. July 2007 marks the 50th anniversary of Kunzel’s professional debut with the Santa Fe Opera Company. In a remarkable 42-year association in Cincinnati, Erich Kunzel’s accomplishments are almost too numerous to list. It was in October 1965 that the music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra invited Kunzel to conduct an “8 O’Clock Pops” concert at Music Hall. That sold-out concert was the beginning of a relationship with concert audiences that inspired the establishment of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra in 1977 with Erich Kunzel as its conductor. The Cincinnati Pops is firmly established as one of the world's most active classical pops ensembles, maintaining a year-round performing and recording schedule and reaching music lovers worldwide through tour performances, television specials and best-selling Telarc recordings. Maestro Kunzel’s credits include an unprecedented catalog of 83 p ops recordings on the Telarc label, seven nationally televised Pops specials on PBS and national and international appearances with the Pops, including 10 Carnegie Hall concerts, two tours to Taiwan, three tours to Japan and an historic tour to China. Erich Kunzel is the most successful Billboard Classical Crossover recording artist in history. In 1991, Billboard named him the Classical Crossover Artist of the Year for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year. Of the 83 Cincinnati Pops Telarc releases, 54 have appeared on either the Classical Crossover or Classical Billboard charts. "When it comes to topping the charts, no orchestra does it better than the Cincinnati Pops," said Ohio Magazine. Dubbed the "Prince of Pops" by the Chicago Tribune, Maestro Kunzel has appeared in more than 100 performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Ravinia Festival, where he holds the record for attendance – 22,000. Since 1991, Maestro Kunzel has led the National Symphony on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol for PBS’s nationally televised Memorial Day and Fourth of July concerts. He is also a regular guest conductor with orchestras around the world. Educated at Dartmouth, Harvard and Brown Universities, Kunzel studied with and was personal assistant to Pierre Monteux. Last year, he was elected into Phi Beta Kappa, America’s oldest honor society, at his alma mater Dartmouth. By 1970, when Arthur Fiedler invited him to conduct the Boston Pops for the first time, Kunzel’s commitment to "pops" was assured. For more information, visit: http://www.erichkunzel.com.
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The National Symphony Orchestra
The National Symphony Orchestra of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, under the music direction of Leonard Slatkin, is recognized not only nationally but internationally as well, and is considered one of the world's finest ensembles. The Orchestra, now in its 76th season (2006-2007), maintains a busy concert schedule in this country and abroad, performing approximately 175 concerts each season, including a classical subscription series, pops concerts, a summer series at Wolf Trap and one of the nation’s most varied and extensive educational programs. The National Symphony is particularly distinguished for its commitment to the music and musicians of this country, exemplified through several innovative projects, among them the American Residency program, which has so far taken the National Symphony to 17 states, performing concerts and providing educational services, with all proceeds benefiting local artistic organizations. Another key initiative is the National Conducting Institute, a groundbreaking training opportunity for gifted conductors. Through the John and June Hechinger Commissioning Fund, the Orchestra has commissioned more than 60 works by American composers; two have earned Pulitzer Prizes. The series also includes cycles of fanfares and encores, which, taken as a whole, are representative of the diverse influences in American composition today. The Orchestra provides free public concerts on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, as well as at other venues around the Washington, DC area. For more information on the National Symphony’s programs, please visit www.nationalsymphony.org.
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Choral Arts Society of Washington
Now celebrating its 42nd season, The Choral Arts Society of Washington, under the leadership of its founder and artistic director Norman Scribner, is one of the major symphonic choruses in the United States. Consisting of more than 190 professional-caliber volunteer singers, The Choral Arts Society of Washington has performed under the world’s leading conductors and symphony orchestras, recorded a number of acclaimed CDs and toured nationally and internationally. The chorus is regularly called upon to help inaugurate presidents, honor world leaders, celebrate national holidays and participate in televised performances. For more information, visit http://www.choralarts.org.
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Military District of Washington
The Military District of Washington (MDW) has worked with Capital Concerts for several years to coordinate participation of many military groups, such as color guard teams, buglers and choruses.
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U.S. Army Herald Trumpets
From the Inauguration of the President to the national anthem at the Superbowl, the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets perform at some of the most spectacular events in America. Since their establishment in 1959, the Army Herald Trumpets have performed at numerous historical occasions. For more information, visit: http://www.usarmyband.com/herald_trumpets/.
United States Army Presidential Salute Battery
The 3rd U.S. Infantry Salute Guns Platoon is responsible for rendering honors to visiting foreign dignitaries and heads of state at the White House, the Pentagon and elsewhere in the Washington D.C., area. The platoon also fires the final salutes during many funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. The guns platoon is the only unit of its kind in the Army, and its busy schedule includes more than 300 ceremonies each year. For more information, please visit: http://www.army.mil/oldguard/SpecialtyPlatoons/guns.htm .
