New York fireworks to dance to Air Force band music

Airman, June, 2004 by Leslie Brown

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- When the fireworks blaze In the night sky during the nation's largest Independence Day celebration, they'll dance, shimmer and boom to music from the Air Force Band of Mid-America.

The organizers of Macy's 28th Annual Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular in New York City asked the band to record original music for the show. So in March, the concert band visited the Sound Kitchen, a state-of-the-art recording studio in Nashville, Tenn., to "lay down" the tracks and bring Macy's commissioned composer Doug Katsaros' work to life.

According to Macy's, the 30-minute fusion of fireworks and music will be viewed live by more than 2.5 million people, and another 25 million people will view the nationally televised display.

"This is a great way to get national attention for the Air Force," said Lt. Col. Steven Grimo, Band of Mid-America commander and conductor.

According to the colonel, the original music will be incorporated in a new compact disc called "Celebrate America," which will he released near Memorial Day. The tracks might also be available as audio downloads on the hand's Web site at www.bandofmidamerica.com.

2nd Lt. Leslie Brown

Band of Mid-America Public Affairs