Two hundred and fifty years ago, a new nation was born — and with it, a musical tradition unlike anything the world had ever heard.
This is not your average patriotic concert.
The GMA proudly presents The Music of America — a high-energy, live musical documentary that traces America’s wildly original musical story from the Revolutionary era all the way to rock and roll. Think jaw-dropping musicianship, fascinating stories you’ve never heard, and music that will have you tapping your feet, wiping a tear, and standing on your feet — sometimes all in the same song.
The evening unfolds like a live documentary, with an emcee weaving together the surprising, funny, and moving true stories behind America’s greatest musical inventions. And woven through it all are two unforgettable dramatic performances: an actor stepping into the boots of General George Washington to reflect on the nation he helped build, and a second actor portraying Audie Murphy — the most decorated American soldier of World War II, a Texas farm boy who came home a hero and found his voice as an entertainer.
Act I kicks off with the electricity of a brass band before diving into the rollicking, irresistible rhythms of Scott Joplin’s ragtime — the music that made America want to dance. From there, it’s the soul-deep emotion of the blues, the dazzling showmanship of Broadway’s golden age, and the irresistible swing of early jazz and big band. These aren’t just musical styles. They are American inventions — born right here, and copied by the rest of the world ever since.
Act II picks up with the voice of Audie Murphy and then swings into the velvet cool of Sinatra-era jazz before heading down the back roads into bluegrass and folk — the sound of the American heartland. From there, it’s country music and the storytellers who made it great, then the raw, electric arrival of rock and roll. The evening closes the way it has to close — with a full-house performance of The Star-Spangled Banner and God Bless America that will give every person in the room chills.
This is America’s music — and on her 250th birthday, we’re giving it the celebration it deserves. Come join us. You will not be bored.
