Mstistlav Rostropovich and the National Symphony Orchestra inaugurated Washington, D.C.'s now annual Independence Day concert on July 4, 1981.
Back then, American actress and singer Pearl Bailey was Slava's featured guest.
In a sign of the times, this year's West Lawn lineup was founded on the stars of reality TV--Candice Glover and Scotty McCreery of American Idol...and of course, America's Got Talent prodigy Jackie Evancho.
Oh, yeah, Barry Manilow showed up, too.
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