Keener Today – July 4

 July 4, 2024
4th-of-July-fireworks

Happening Today:

Experience a masterful musical performance amidst 300 years of American history at Salute to America in Greenfield Village. For over 30 years, The Henry Ford and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra have created an unforgettable Fourth of July concert. The village features food trucks, a historic 1913 carousel, presenters in period clothing, and musical ensembles throughout. With seven historic districts to explore, guests can enjoy choral singing, ragtime, blues, jazz, and more. At sunset, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, led by guest conductor Lawrence Loh, delivers a triumphant performance featuring Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” cannon fire, and a fireworks finale. Details at TheHenryFord.org.

Parades:

Oak Park: Parade at 11 AM at Coolidge Highway & 9 Mile Rd, followed by a Fun Fest at Shepherd Park with live music, inflatables, and a petting zoo.

Plymouth: Parade at 9 AM on Main Street with a 25-foot Uncle Sam balloon, carnival acts, bands, vintage cars, and more.

Royal Oak: Taco Fest from July 4-7 in downtown Royal Oak with food from 50+ eateries, margaritas, live entertainment, and more.

Gibraltar 4th of July Parade and Carnival

Cohoctah Township 33rd annual 4th of July Parade

Brighton 4th of July Parade

Clawson 4th of July Parade, Carnival & Fireworks

Northville Independence Day Parade

Milford 4th of July Parade

Clarkston 4th of July Parade

Fowlerville 4th of July Parade and Fireworks

Independence Day Parade Wyandotte

Fireworks accross Michigan (Courtesy of MichiganFireworks.com):

Jul 4, 2024 (10) fireworks displays

Jul 5, 2024 (7) fireworks displays

Jul 6, 2024 (12) fireworks displays

Today in History:

1776 According to popular legend the Liberty Bell rings for the Second Continental Congress.
1776 US Congress proclaims the Declaration of Independence and independence from Great Britain.
1803 The Louisiana Purchase is announced to the American people by President Thomas Jefferson.
1826 Past presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both die on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, President John Quincy Adams calls “visible and palpable remarks of Divine Favor”.
1862 Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) creates Alice in Wonderland for Alice Liddell on a family boat trip on the river Isis (Thames) in Oxford.
1881 Booker T. Washington establishes Tuskegee Institute (Alabama).
1884 Statue of Liberty presented to US in Paris.
1929 AM radio station WOWO, Indiana’s transmitter burns down.
1950 The first broadcast by Radio Free Europe.
1959 America’s new 49-star flag honoring Alaska statehood unfurled.
1964 Beachboys’ “I Get Around” reaches #1.
1966 LBJ signs Freedom of Information Act.
1970 Casey Kasem’s “American Top 40” debuts.
1977 Norman Lear’s late night television talk show parody “Fernwood 2-Night”, starring Martin Mull, Fred Willard, and Frank De Vol, debuts in syndication.
Birthdays:
Stephen Foster (1826-1864) – American composer (Oh! Susanna; Swanee River; Beautiful Dreamer), born in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania.
Neil Simon (1927-2018) – American playwright (The Odd Couple, Plaza Suite, Biloxi Blues), born in The Bronx, New York.
George Steinbrenner (1930-2010) – American businessman and MLB team owner (New York Yankees), born in Rocky River, Ohio.
Geraldo Rivera is 81.
Fred Wesley, trombonist for Parliament-Funkadelic and James Brown, is 81.
Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson, co-lead singer and co-founder of Canned Heat, was born today in 1943.
Jeremy Spencer, a member of Fleetwood Mac from 1967-1971, is 76.
Ralph Johnson, percussionist for Earth, Wind & Fire, is 73.
John Waite — singer for the Babys and Bad English as well as a solo artist (“Missing You”) — is 72.
Singles Released Today:
1966 • The Lovin’ Spoonful • “Summer In The City”
1969 • John Lennon • “Give Peace A Chance”
1969 • The Rolling Stones • “Honky Tonk Women”
1980 • Diana Ross • “Upside Down”
1995 • Deep Blue Something • “Breakfast At Tiffany’s”
Keener Number Ones This Week in:
(1964) Where Did Our Love Go, Supremes
(1965) Satisfaction, Rolling Stones
(1966) Wild Thing, Troggs
(1967) Light My Fire, Doors
(1968) Journey to the Center of the Mind, Amboy Dukes
(1969) In The Year 2525, Zager & Evans
(1970) Signed Sealed Delivered, Stevie Wonder
(1971) Smiling Faces Sometimes, Undisputed Truth