Saturday, June 13, 2009

FREEDOM OVER TEXAS WITH FIREWORKS PRESENTED BY SHELL CELEBRATES AMERICA’S BIRTHDAY WITH COUNTRY MUSIC SENSATION CLAY WALKER

Mayor Bill White Invites Texans to Houston’s Official Fourth of July Celebration Featuring the Largest Land-Based Fireworks Show in the Nation and a Schedule Full of Family Fun

HOUSTON, TEXAS (June 13, 2009) Fireworks will fly and tunes will fill the air at Houston’s star-spangled Fourth of July celebration, Freedom Over Texas with Fireworks Presented by Shell. This year’s event, saluting Houston’s military heroes and honoring the 40th anniversary of NASA’s Apollo XI Lunar Landing, will feature the largest land-based fireworks show in the nation, unbeatable entertainment and a lively outdoor festival. Admission is FREE. On Saturday, July 4, Clay Walker will ignite the stage and the concert will be followed by the largest land-based fireworks show in the nation, presented by Shell Oil Company and produced by the world-renowned fireworks artists from Pyro Spectaculars North by Souza. Both the concert and the fireworks will be televised live on KTRK-TV (ABC), Ch.13 from Eleanor Tinsley Park.

"I want to invite our fellow Texans to Houston's All - American Fourth of July celebration" said Mayor Bill White. "This year we salute Houston's Heroes. This includes the men and women serving our armed forces today and in years past. It also includes NASA's iconic space program on the 40th Anniversary of the historic Apollo XI Lunar Landing. Thanks to our Anchor Sponsors, the city is able to bring in an unbeatable headliner and a host of other entertainment. For the fourth year in a row, Shell is on board to underwrite a spectacular fireworks show, making Houston the number one Fourth of July destination in the country."

Texas-native Clay Walker will take the Freedom Stage at 8:00 p.m. to perform a selection of his chart-topping hits. Walker fell in love with country music at an early age and started to pursue his musical career after high school. He toured across the South, Midwest and Canada while taking courses about the music business and eventually became the house singer at the Neon Armadillo bar in his hometown Beaumont, where he then signed a contract with Giant Records. Walker’s first two singles “What’s It To You” and “Live Until I Die” released in 1993 reached No. 1. By the end of 1998 he had a dozen Top 5 hits and his first four studio albums were certified platinum. Walker’s Greatest Hits and album Live, Laugh, Love were certified gold.

When the concert comes to a close at 9:30 p.m., eyes will turn skyward for an extraordinary fireworks spectacular perfectly set to a selection of America’s favorite tunes, from patriotic songs to rock ‘n’ roll hits to classic bestsellers.

Dick Williams, President of Shell WindEnergy Inc. says, "For more than 80 years, Shell has been a strong supporter of the Houston community and our nation. As a country, we have much to celebrate, and we at Shell are thrilled to participate in the festivities this year."

All the excitement for Freedom Over Texas with Fireworks Presented by Shell will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday July 4. In addition to this year’s entertainment headliner, the festival will also spotlight a top-notch selection of local and regional music. Throughout the day, three stages will keep toes tapping with music ranging from country western and rock 'n' roll to Latin, pop and oldies. Festival-goers will enjoy a variety of activities throughout the site. Liberty Park will showcase displays of military artifacts and vehicles including representation from all five military branches and more. The branches and the Houston Police Department will also offer recruiting opportunities on site. Guests will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the Shell-sponsored NASCAR, Kevin Harvick’s car and the Tire Change Challenge. Children will stay entertained with free rides, games, face painting, jugglers and more in the Fiesta All American Kids Zone. Event patrons visiting the Gexa Energy booths will have the opportunity to take advantage of special offers on 100% wind-powered, 100% pollution-free electricity plans, learn more about renewable energy solutions, and discover actions they can take to pay less for electricity.

Visitors can kick back and relax at the Budweiser Beer Garden, offering a selection of Craft and Import Beers with a prime view of the fourth annual Bud Light Texas Volleyball Championship. The preliminary men’s and women’s semi-pro statewide championship tournaments are being held in Houston, Galveston, San Antonio and Dallas. The winners of each prelim will vie for the “Texas Title” at Freedom Over Texas with Fireworks Presented by Shell.

Freedom Over Texas with Fireworks Presented by Shell will be simulcast on KTRK-TV (ABC), Ch.13 from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, and will be syndicated statewide on KTRE-TV (ABC) in Lufkin/Nacogdoches, KLTV-TV (ABC) in Tyler/Longview/Jacksonville, KTVT-TV (CBS) in Dallas/Ft. Worth, KJTV-DT2 (FOX) in Lubbock/Albuquerque, NM/Hobbs, NM, and KXTS-TV (MYTV) in Victoria. In addition, Clear Channel radio station, Classic Rock 93.7, The Arrow/KKRW-FM will simulcast the music medley specially choreographed for the fireworks spectacular.

Admission for the event is FREE. And, new this year, Freedom Over Texas with Fireworks Presented by Shell is going green, providing recycling receptacles and encouraging all patrons to recycle.

Freedom Over Texas with Fireworks Presented by Shell sponsors include: Fireworks sponsor Shell Oil Company; Anchor Sponsors Budweiser/Silver Eagle Distributors, LP, Gexa Energy, and KBR, Inc.; and Clear Channel Radio-Houston (Classic Rock 93.7, The Arrow/KKRW-FM, 94.5 The Buzz/KTBZ-FM, Sunny 99.1/KODA-FM, NewsRadio 740/KTRH-AM, 790 The Sports Animal/KBME-AM, The 9-5-0 Radio Mojo/ KPRC-AM), Doubletree Hotel Houston Downtown, and Fiesta Mart, Inc.

Shell Oil Company, including its consolidated companies and its share in equity companies, is one of America’s leading oil and natural gas producers, natural gas marketers, gasoline marketers and petrochemical manufacturers. Shell, a leading oil and gas producer in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, is a recognized pioneer in oil and gas exploration and production technology. Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Shell Group, a global group of energy and petrochemical companies, employing approximately 102,000 people and operating in more than 100 countries and territories. More information about Shell Oil Company can be found at www.shell.com.

For more information, call 832.393.0868 or visit the Freedom Over Texas with Fireworks Presented by Shell Web site at www.freedomovertexas.org or www.houstonspecialevents.org.

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