The Four Top's Duke Fakir says performing on PBS' “A Capitol Fourth” special is “a great honor”

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Courtesy of The Four Tops; Capital Concerts/Keith Lamond via ShutterstockLet the fireworks begin! The 2017 edition of the annual PBS Independence Day special, A Capitol Fourth, airs live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., at 8 p.m. ET. The lineup of the patriotic concert spectacular includes Motown greats The Four Tops, The Beach Boys, The Blues Brothers with special guest Sam Moore, country star Trace Adkins and many others.

Duke Fakir, the last surviving original Four Tops member, tells ABC Radio that it’s “a great honor” to get to perform some of his group’s classic songs at the Capitol on July 4.

The show will feature special tributes to the U.S. troops, will feature a variety of military bands and is expected to be viewed by armed forces members around the world on the American Forces Network.

Fakir points out that The Four Tops have performed for the troops many times during their long career, “and we’re always more than happy to honor them in any way we can and every chance that we get.”

As for what his group will sing, the 81-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer says, “We’ll be doing most of our hits — about five or six in a medley,” which undoubtedly will include “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There.”

Duke says his favorite Four Tops tune is “Baby I Need Your Loving,” partly because it was the group’s first hit.

Actor John Stamos will host this year’s A Capitol Fourth, and also will play drums with The Beach Boys. Bringing the special to a close will be a fireworks extravaganza, along with a performance of Tchaikovsky‘s “1812 Overture” by the National Symphony Orchestra.

Visit PBS.org for more details about the event.

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