Boston Pops Season To Feature American Music Traditions

BOSTON (AP) -- The Boston Pops 2011 season will be a celebration of diverse American musical styles.

The Pops and conductor Keith Lockhart launch the season on May 11 with a tribute to Judy Garland, including "Over the Rainbow" and featuring Linda Eder.

The spring and summer program also includes shows celebrating jazz, bluegrass, Dixieland, gospel and Broadway tunes.

View: Pops 2011 Schedule

The Pops and singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins are embarking on a minor league ballpark tour in late August that travels to parks from Alabama to Connecticut. Lockhart calls it a "marriage between the worlds of music and sports," that draws inspiration from three of America's favorite pastimes -- baseball, movies and rock 'n' roll.

An American Icons program in June will feature the music of Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Richard Rodgers and others.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)