Guest Editorial by Multi Emmy Award-Winning Artist Brian Tarquin
One of the wonderful things about summer is July 4th with all the positive energy and patriotic spirit! I have always been a strong supporter of this country and appreciate the benefits of being American. In the summer of 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing that the 13 colonies would no longer be under the tyranny of the British Empire.
The Constitution laid the path for the legal and governmental foundation of the United States. As stated in the famous document “All men are created equal!” This became the outcry of the American people in the 18th Century. The Revolutionary War began the preceding year of 1775 and from that point on colonists started to celebrate this great Independence Day by holding mock funerals for mad King George III. This symbolized their freedom by ending the tight hold the monarchy had on the colonies. However, it wasn’t until 1870 that the United States Congress made July 4th a federal holiday and in 1941 expanded the holiday as a vacation day to all federal employees.
Right from the beginning music played a huge role in celebrating this sacred day for the birth of America. Benjamin Franklin and Francis Hopkinson who were both signers of the Declaration of Independence invented musical instruments. Good ole Ben invented something called the “armonica.” This was based on making music with glasses filled with water. Francis Hopkinson, who was an organist, modified Franklin’s armonica to add a keyboard. He also composed “My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free” one of the oldest surviving American original songs. John Dickinson composed “The Liberty Song” which became one the earliest patriotic songs in America and is credited with the moto “United we stand, divided we fall.” We even see this spirit celebrated in modern times with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical Hamilton, placing our forefather Alexander Hamilton in a musical role celebrating our freedoms by performing duets with his daughter. The movie 1776 from 1972 also pays homage to our great Independence and musical history starring William Daniels, Howard da Silva, Ken Howard directed by Jack L Warner. This was a great adaptation of our historical day of July 4th and brings harmony and melodic integrity to the moment.
Some may know of my strong patriotic feelings for this country through many of my veteran charity-based albums. Sometimes words can’t express one’s gratitude and emotions of such a time as Independence Day, so I feel music conveys it much better where words fail.
About Brian Tarquin
Brian Tarquin is a multi-Emmy Award-winning composer/guitarist/producer. He has won 3 Emmys for “Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series” and has been nominated for an Emmy six times.
In 2023, he released a benefit album entitled Brothers In Arms for Fisherhouse.org an organization that builds comfort homes where military & veteran families can stay free of charge while a loved one is in the hospital. The album features iconic musicians like Joe Satriani, Vinnie Moore (UFO), Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal (Guns N’ Roses), Alex De Rosso (Dokken), Travis Stever (Coheed & Cambria), Jeff Duncan (Armored Saint), Johannes Weik (Son of a Bach), Gerald Gradwohl (Tangerine Dream), Chris Haskett (Henry Rollins Band), and The Budapest Orchestra.
This year, he launched the album, Beyond the Warriors Eyes to support the Hope For The Warriors Foundation, which provides medical care, mental health counseling, professional training and education, physical conditioning, and transition services for wounded, ill, and injured Marines and Navy members. https://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/
The star-studded album features legendary artists like Jean Luc Ponty, Eric Johnson, Robben Ford (Miles Davis), Steve Morse (Deep Purple), Dean Brown (David Sanborn), Hal Lindes (Dire Straits), Chris Poland (Megadeth), John Tropea (Billy Cobham), Steve Kindler (Jeff Beck), Carl Verheyen (Supertramp) & Larry McCray (John Mayall), the late Phil Naro, and the Budapest Symphony Orchestra
Listen to Brian Tarquin's music perfect for Independence Day 2024.
From the album Beyond the Warrior’s Eyes
From the album Guitar Emotions
From the album Loud & Heavy Vocals
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