NBC ADDS SUPERSTAR JOSS STONE TO THE LINEUP OF TALENT FOR NBC'S 'MACY'S 4th OF JULY FIREWORKS� SPECTACULAR' WEDNESDAY, JULY 4th (9-10 p.m. EST)
NEW YORK � June 7, 2007 � NBC adds Grammy Award-winning artist Joss Stone to the superstar lineup of talent set to perform on the live broadcast of the "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks� Spectacular," along with previously announced Martina McBride, 'American Idol' winner Jordin Sparks, 'American Idol' contestants Blake Lewis and Melinda Doolittle. Hosted by Natalie Morales, NBC's "Today" National Correspondent and Tiki Barber, "Today" Correspondent and "Football Night in America" Studio Analyst, the show will air on Wednesday, July 4th, 9-10 p.m. EST (all time zones).
The country's largest Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza will feature nearly 35,000 brilliant shells exploding over New York City set to a sweeping original medley performed by The New York Pops. Over 1,000 pyrotechnic shells are fired every minute, when the first shells explode and begin their choreographed pyrotechnic dance. Painting the sky this year will be new shells from around the globe, the highlight of the Macy's Fireworks is always the famed Golden Mile, a multi-layer explosion which stretches across the skyline filling it with a golden sparks from 1,200 feet in the air to the water's edge.
The backbone of every Macy's Fireworks show is the musical score that sets the framework for pyrotechnic art in the sky. 'In Our Children's Eyes', this year's score is performed by The New York Pops under the direction of Rob Fisher, and features patriotic works, iconic movie themes, and uniquely American popular songs. From 'Yankee Doodle,' 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame,' and 'Oh! Susanna.'
The magic in the sky begins with the group at Macy's events and the explosive family of Fireworks, the Souza's. Gary and James Souza, and the entire Sousa Fireworks team of Rialto, CA have helped create the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks show for over 25 years. The show comes together after months of globetrotting in search of the newest, most unique firework shells, a year of design meetings and over a week of installation, all to set off the grandest show in America.
The 2007 Macy's 4th of July Fireworks are sponsored in part by Anheuser-Busch, Ball Park�, Energizer, The Hershey Company and Planters�; and are presented in partnership with The City of New York, and The Downtown Alliance for New York.
Grammy Award-winning artist Joss Stone has sold more than 7.5 million albums worldwide. Her album, Introducing Joss Stone, has recently been certified gold. She has appeared onstage with James Brown, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Patti LaBelle, Mavis Staples, Donna Summer, and Smokey Robinson; sat for an interview with Oprah Winfrey; starred in two major ad campaigns for the Gap; and performed for more than 200,000 people at the 2005 Live 8 Concert in London � all before reaching the ripe old age of 19. And yet, only now, on her third album, Introducing Joss Stone, does the British soul singer and songwriter feel she is expressing her true musical vision. "This is the first album I've made that is truly me," she says. "That's why I'm calling it Introducing Joss Stone. These are my words, and this is who I am as an artist."
The telecast is a production of NBC Universal Television Studio in association with Macy's. Bob Holmes is the executive producer.
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