A Capitol Fourth 2004

From American legend Robin Gibb to American Idol Clay Aiken, this concert's impressive lineup is sure to entertain!

Barry Bostwick

From his portrayal of the all-American Brad Majors in The Rocky Horror Picture Show to the hilarious Mayor Randall Winston on ABC's Spin City, Barry Bostwick has had an illustrious career in all genres of show business. He played George Washington in the Peabody Award-winning CBS mini-series George Washington; won a Golden Globe for his performance as Lieutenant "Lady" Aster in ABC's thirty-hour presentation of War and Remembrance; and has appeared in several PBS musical specials including The Best of Broadway and Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration at Carnegie Hall.

A veteran of the stage, Barry won the Tony for Best Actor in a Musical for The Robber Bridegroom, and has received Tony nominations for his characterizations of Danny Zuko in Grease and Joey in They Knew What They Wanted. This year, Barry completed four feature films: Skulls III, the independent feature Swing, Disney's animated 101 Dalmatians Part 2, and Chestnut Hero of Central Park to be released this summer. This is Barry's seventh year as host of A Capitol Fourth.

Vince Gill

Despite 16 Grammy awards, 18 Country Music Award honors and 22 million in album sales, Vince Gill is, at heart, still the Oklahoma kid who picked up a guitar when he learned how to walk and never looked back. On his 11th album, Next Big Thing, Gill returns to the music he loves with the bluesy, This Old Guitar and Me and the bittersweet In These Last Few Days. Among the vocalists who guest on the record are wife Amy Grant (who he is pictured with, below), Emmylou Harris, Lee Ann Womack, Michael McDonald and Leslie Satcher.

In 2004, Vince completed a new album with the Cherry Bombs, a group of musicians Gill played with in the late `70s. Gill is headlining the Grand Ole Opry American Road Show 2004, and joined Eric Clapton and other incredible guitar players for the Eric Clapton Presents The Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas, Texas. Gill will end the year by hitting the road with Amy for their third joint Christmas tour.

Amy Grant

If you want to know Amy Grant's story, all you really have to do is listen to her songs. From the first time she picked up a guitar as a teenager to her multi-platinum albums, Amy's always found a musical way to share her life. And in the process, she's not only become an icon in Christian music, but also one of the most celebrated pop artists. Amy's self-titled debut album introduced the world to a fresh-faced young woman with a contagious faith and engaging spirit. Following this hit came Father's Eyes, Never Alone and Age to Age which netted Amy her first Dove and Grammy awards.

In the mid-'80s, Amy's music found its way onto mainstream radio and MTV, including Unguarded, the multi-platinum Heart in Motion and House of Love. In 1999, Grant hosted a network television Christmas special, Christmas to Remember, and starred in the television movie A Song from the Heart. The following year, she married Vince Gill, and a year later the family grew with the addition of daughter Corrina Grant Gill. The five-time Grammy Award-winner's latest album is Simple Things.

Clay Aiken

American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken is having a remarkable year. He reached double platinum status with his debut, Measure of a Man, and less than six months after the release of his first single, Aiken won both an American Music Award and a Billboard Music Award. He has also graced the covers of Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone, who included him (respectively) in their lists of "12 Entertainers of the Year" and "People of the Year."

The Raleigh, North Carolina, native recently took home the Fan's Choice American Music Award and a Billboard Music Award for having the best-selling single of the year. Aiken spent the summer of 2003 on the road touring with "American Idols Live," and this year co-headlined an arena tour with earlier American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson.

Robin Gibb

Robin Gibb reached legendary status as one of the multi-award winning Bee Gees, a group that only recently disbanded in 2003 after the death of Robin's twin brother, Maurice. Their records continue to be played, and the abundance of hit songs they wrote are still covered by artists everywhere. The Bee Gees' number one hits include Jive Talkin,' You Should Be Dancing, How Deep Is Your Love, Stayin' Alive, Night Fever, If I Can't Have You and More Than a Woman.

Among the Bee Gees' numerous accolades are the American Music Awards' 1997 Lifetime Achievement Award, the Grammy's 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award, and induction into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Robin was recently honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Awards. Currently, the artist is working on a solo album of duets to be produced by Babyface.

The National Symphony Orchestra

As it prepares for its 75th season, the National Symphony Orchestra of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, under the music direction of Leonard Slatkin, is considered to be one of the world's finest ensembles. The Orchestra maintains a busy concert schedule, performing approximately 175 concerts each season at home and abroad and hosting one of the most varied and extensive educational programs.

The National Symphony is particularly distinguished for its continued commitment to fostering American music and musicians through the American Residency program, the National Conducting Institute, and the John and June Hechinger Commissioning Fund. The Orchestra provides free public concerts on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, as well as other venues around the Washington, D.C. area.

-- Edited for Applause Online by Anna Christopher