Five generations of Souzas have been in the firework business -- with more to come. Jim Souza, current CEO and president of Pyro Spectaculars works with his two sons, Paul and Chris, along with his wife Sheryl.
Great-grandfather Manuel de Sousa came to the U.S. from Portugal at the turn of the 20th century and wound up in the San Francisco area. Portuguese immigrants there participated in Roman Catholic "Holy Ghost" festivals, and de Sousa provided the fireworks for the events.
The business remained strictly mom-and-pop until the spectacle of the 1976 Bicentennial firework display.
"That changed fireworks forever," says Jim Souza. The family upped its game and turned its homegrown operation into an international phenomenon in the firework industry. After that show, Manuel's grandson, Bob -- Jim's father -- teamed up with a large consumer fireworks company, and in 1979, Pyro Spectaculars was born.
The Rialto, Calif.-based company scored a major coup when it landed a 1982 show for Hong Kong -- in the country that manufactures about 98% of fireworks sold in the U.S. It was a gig that continued for 15 years. Jim Souza chalks the success up to "The Souza touch."
This Independence Day, Pyro Spectaculars is behind Macy's 4th of July Fireworks in New York City. Souza dishes that there will be 6 barges and 40,000 shells that will go off for 25 minutes straight.
Where to Watch: Macy's 4th of July Fireworks, NYC
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