Happy 4th of July everyone! My favorite part of every Independence Day? The 1812 Overture played with synchronized LIVE CANNON BLASTS, here dedicated to the longtime conductor of the Boston Pops who started this grand tradition, Arthur Fiedler, by their current music director, Keith Lockhart.

My brief internet research suggests Arthur Fiedler started this annual tradition going back to at least 1974, and it was broadcast nationally for the bicentennial celebration in 1976. This TV broadcast on WBZ (a CBS affiliate) was in 2012, I believe.

Not sure if it is still true, but in some years the signaler who gives the instruction for the cannons to fire was Arthur Fiedler's son! A touching continuance of this great tradition.