Today, we celebrate the anniversary of the most pivotal moment in our nation’s history. On this day in 1776, the United States of America finally liberated itself from British rule, becoming a truly independent country in its own right. We have celebrated Independence Day on the Fourth of July ever since. It’s a day of joy and unity, and a time to revel in US traditions, culture and values. In short, it’s American through and through - just like us right here at Rock-Ola.
It’s one of America’s favorite national holidays, and we’ve got a little something special in store to commemorate it. Until 11:59 pm on the 4th of July 2020, you can get $500 off any jukebox you choose - just use the code JULY4 at the checkout!
Each of our classic Bubbler jukeboxes is a true American icon in itself, and a select few even bear the livery of renowned US brands, such as Harley-Davidson and Jack Daniels. Or maybe you’ll be tempted by the graceful curves of our American Beauties CD jukebox. Whatever livery you choose, you can’t go wrong with a Rock-Ola jukebox - it’s the consummate choice for those who find their interiors yearning for a taste of the red, white and blue.
Now sure, it’s true that Independence Day is a little different this year. Traditionally, it’s been marked by fairs and baseball games, carnivals, and one-of-a-kind parades. Not all of those are happening in quite the same guise in 2020, but there are still tons more ways you can have a good time! The sense of community and family have always been huge parts of celebrating Independence Day, and you can still enjoy picnics, games, and meals together on this beautiful summer’s day. And of course, there’s always time to get things sizzling on a classic Fourth of July barbecue, and light up the sky with fireworks!
A quick history of Independence Day
As the only manufacturers of the world’s last all-American jukebox, we have a global readership here at Rock-Ola. So while our fellow Americans might need no introduction to the Fourth of July celebrations, we’re happy to give some quick background for our international customers!
It’s probably best to start at the beginning, but the trouble is that everyone’s got their own idea of when that is. So we’ll just start at the point that everyone agrees is pretty important - all the way back in the 1750s, with a group of British colonies known as the Thirteen Colonies. Together, they formed a long strip on the east side of the continent along the Atlantic coast and were made up of soon-to-be US states such as Georgia, New York, and Massachusetts.
Now, while technically under British rule, the Thirteen Colonies were becoming worryingly autonomous as far as Britain was concerned - they had a high degree of self-governance, and some were even holding their own local elections. In time, they began to distance themselves more and more from London’s control, while the capital in turn became gradually more forceful in its demands. Eventually, something had to give. And it wasn’t the colonies.
British troops were sent over the Atlantic in 1775, and the Revolutionary War broke out. In the beginning, relatively few colonists wanted complete independence, and those who did were seen as radical by the rest. But it didn’t take long for that idea to take root and spread throughout the Thirteen Colonies, especially those who witnessed British military action directly.
On June 7th, 1776, the Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House. There, the Virginia delegate Richard Lee officially called for the colonies’ independence. After a heated initial debate, the response of Congress was to appoint the now legendary Committee of Five, consisting of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, and Robert R. Livingston. Together, they drafted a formal statement of their intention to break from British rule - a document that would make history as the Declaration of Independence.
Less than a month later on July 2nd, the Continental Congress officially voted in favor of the resolution. It was formally adopted on July 4th, the day that would ultimately become Independence Day.
You can probably see why some people think that technically, here in the US we should actually be celebrating Independence Day on July the 2nd - the day of the actual vote. Proponents of this idea included John Adams himself, who even went as far as turning down invitations for any celebrations on the 4th of July, apparently as a form of protest.
But then, on the day of the actual vote he’d written a letter to his wife Abigail, declaring his belief that “the second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America.” Kinda embarrassing to back down after making a statement like that.
John Adams firmly held this belief throughout the remainder of his life. However, when he and fellow Founding Father Thomas Jefferson both died on the Fourth of July in 1826, its place was forever assured in our national history.
Our top 10 patriotic tunes for the 4th of July
Music and Americana are both pretty big parts of our identity here at Rock Ola, so as you’d expect, we’ve got no shortage of favorite songs for Independence Day! Here are 10 of our most beloved tunes, perfect for playing in the sunshine.
1. You’re A Grand Old Flag - George M Cohan, (1906)
2. This Land is Your Land - Woody Guthrie (1944)
3. Route 66 - the Four King Sisters (1952)
4. Dennis Day - the Stars and Stripes Forever (1952)
5. Back in the USA - Chuck Berry (1959)
6. California Sun - The Rivieras (1963)
7. Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys (1966)
8. Only in America - Jay & the Americans (1965)
9. America the Beautiful - Elvis Presley (1977)
10. Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen (1984)
And if you’re not yet the owner of your very own jukebox to play them on, well - you’re in exactly the right place! Here at Rock-Ola, we are the last manufacturers of the only true authentic American jukebox. You’ll find a stunning range of iconic Bubbler jukeboxes right here on our website, including the brand new authentic Bubbler Vinyl 45 with Bluetooth capability.
And you may have spotted another recent addition - the distinctive 1961 Rock-Ola Regis 200 Selection Jukebox. We’ll be revealing more about our plans for it very soon - stay tuned!
