THURSDAY, FRIDAY, AND SATURDAY, JULY 2, 3 AND 4, 2009, AT 7:30 PM
The July 4 concert is generously sponsored by Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts
July 3 and July 4 Media Sponsor: 95.5 KLOS
For the first time ever, American music icon John Fogerty joins the Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by John Morris Russell, at the Hollywood Bowl’s annual July 4th Fireworks Spectacular. The American Independence Day celebration begins with classic anthems performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic followed by a performance from John Fogerty, one of America’s greatest living songwriters. Fogerty and his band will perform many of his notable Grammy-recognized works, hits from his days as leader of Creedence Clearwater Revival, and possibly a preview of some of the songs from his highly-anticipated forthcoming album, The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again. The epic evening will also see a first time collaboration between Fogerty and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, with arrangements by esteemed composer/arranger David Campbell and culminates with the Hollywood Bowl’s unparalleled fireworks finale. The July 4th Fireworks Spectacular with John Fogerty takes place Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, July 2, 3 and 4, at 7:30 p.m.
The legendary John Fogerty, is one of the most authentic and distinctive voices in American popular music. The multi-talented singer/songwriter/guitarist, has achieved acclaim throughout the world with his large catalog of beloved songs and legendary live performances. The creative force behind Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Fogerty-led Creedence formed in 1967, became one of the major influences of the classic rock era, releasing seven studio albums and a string of major chart singles, including “Proud Mary,” “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” and “Bad Moon Rising,” among many others. Though the band split up in 1972, its legacy was recognized in 1993, its first year of eligibility with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
Fogerty began a solo career shortly after Creedence disbanded, releasing The Blue Ridge Rangersin 1973. This homage to classic country yielded two Top 40 hits: “Jambalaya” and “Hearts of Stone.” Not long after, he made his solo debut with the eponymous John Fogerty that included the hit “Rockin' All Over the World." Following a long legal struggle caused by an onerous recording contract, Fogerty re-emerged with renewed strength in 1985 with the multi-platinum Centerfield. The title track has become a rock standard and a modern day anthem for baseball that rivals “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” as the theme for our national pastime; the album also included the top 10 single “The Old Man Down The Road.” 1997’s Blue Moon Swamp was a huge commercial success for Fogerty and earned the Grammy award for Best Rock Album. In 2005, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. His most recently released album, Revival, was Grammy-nominated in 2008 for Best Rock Album.
Post-production work on the much-anticipated John Fogerty:The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again is now complete with a late summer/early fall 2009 release pending. The new album is, after 36 years, the conceptual follow-up to 1973’s Blue Ridge Rangers. As with the earlier album, the repertoire featured in The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Againconsists of 12 songs, both classic and arcane, that illustrate the influence country and roots music have long had on Fogerty and his own songwriting. An all-star cast of supporting musicians was on hand for the new BRR project, including Buddy Miller, Kenny Aronoff, Greg Leisz, Jay Bellerose, Jason Mowery, Herb Pedersen, Jodie Kennedy, Oren Waters, Chris Chaney, Dennis Crouch and Hunter Perrin. Also joining in were three of the biggest musical icons; Bruce Springsteen and Eagles’ Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit.
JOHN MORRIS RUSSELL has consistently won international praise for his extraordinary music-making and visionary leadership. Since his appointment as Music Director of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra in 2001, Russell has ushered in a new era of unprecedented artistic growth for the WSO and has invigorated the musical life of the Windsor-Essex region. A two-time recipient of Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Arts, as well as the Ontario Arts Council’s Vida Peene Award for Artistic Excellence, Russell and the WSO have also won coveted nominations for both the Gemini Awards (2004) and Juno Awards (2008). Now in his eighth season, Russell conducts 16 weeks with the WSO, including Masterworksand Pops subscription program, concerts on the new Intimate Classics series, and the Windsor Canadian Music Festival. As a guest conductor, Russell has led many of North America’s most distinguished ensembles, including the orchestras of Toronto, Edmonton, Victoria, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Dallas, Minnesota, and Louisville; Miami’s New World Symphony, the Oregon Symphony, the Colorado Symphony, the New York City Ballet and the New York Philharmonic. This year marks Russell’s 12th season with Carnegie Hall, where he conducts the “LinkUP!” educational concert series, the oldest and most celebrated series of its kind in the Western hemisphere, created by Walter Damrosch in 1891 and made famous by Leonard Bernstein. Last season, Russell made his debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, and was immediately re-engaged for this summer. Russell served as associate conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for 11 years, where he regularly led concerts at Music Hall and the Riverbend Music Center. Widely recognized for his innovative programming and commitment to attracting new and diverse audiences to orchestral music, Russell created the Classical Roots: Spiritual Heights series, which brought the music of African-American composers and performers to thousands of listeners in area churches, and was also the co-creator of the Christmas spectacular Home for the Holidays. In September of 1999, Russell replaced Erich Kunzel with an hour’s notice to conduct the Cincinnati Pops’ opening weekend concerts. The following week he substituted for Maestro Kunzel in concerts on the stage of the famed Musikverein in Vienna, featuring the Harlem Boychoir, the Vienna Choir Boys and actor Gregory Peck. The performance continues to be televised throughout Europe, Japan, and in the U.S. on PBS. Russell has also served as associate conductor of the Savannah Symphony Orchestra, director of the orchestral program at Vanderbilt University, and music director with the College Light Opera Company in Falmouth, Massachusetts. He received a Master of Music degree in conducting from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Williams College in Massachusetts.
One of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, with a seating capacity of nearly 18,000, the HOLLYWOOD BOWL has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its official opening in 1922, and is home to the best and brightest in all genres of music. The 2004 season introduced audiences to a revitalized Hollywood Bowl, featuring a newly-constructed shell and stage and the addition of four stadium screens enhancing stage views in the venue. To this day, $1 buys a seat at the top of the Bowl for many of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's concerts. While the Bowl is best known for its sizzling summer nights, during the day California's youngest patrons enjoy "SummerSounds: Music for Kids at the Hollywood Bowl," the Southland's most popular summer arts festival for children, now in its 42nd season. In January 2009, the Hollywood Bowl was named Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue for the fifth year in a row at the 20th Annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards; the Bowl's summer music festival has become as much a part of a Southern California summer as beaches and barbecues, the Dodgers, and Disneyland.
EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:
THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, JULY 2, 3, 4, 2009, at 7:30 PM
HOLLYWOOD BOWL, 2301 N. Highland Ave.in Hollywood
JULY 4THSPECTACULAR: JOHN FOGERTY
LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC
JOHN MORRIS RUSSELL, conductor
JOHN FOGERTY, special guest
The July 4 concert is generously sponsored by Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts
July 3 and July 4 Media Sponsor: 95.5 KLOS
Tickets ($12 - $116) are on sale now at HollywoodBowl.com, at the Hollywood Bowl Box Office (Tuesday–Saturday, 12 p.m.–6 p.m.), or by calling Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000, and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Groups of 10 or more may be eligible for a 20% discount, subject to availability; call 323.850.2050 for further details or group sales. For general information or to request a brochure, call 323.850.2000.
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Sophie Jefferies, sjefferies@laphil.org, 213.972.3422; Lisa White, lwhite@laphil.org 213.972.3408; For photos: 213.972.3034