Tops In Blue takes the stage

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Collin Schmidt
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Tops In Blue has been entertaining Airmen and their families for over 60 years. Since the beginning, the group's main goal has been to bring joy, inspiration and positivity to the military force.

The Tops In Blue team is an all-active duty U.S. Air Force special unit made up of talented performers selected for their entertainment abilities. Each year, Air Force personnel stationed worldwide compete in a multilevel competition for the right to be selected as a member of this elite organization.

The show spans a multitude of musical genres and dance styles, which are melded together to form an all-encompassing stage performance. Together with expert performers and exceptionally well trained audio technicians and stage hands, the team has been able to provide this service on world tours, in deployed environments and across the United States.

This year's tour features the sounds of Bruno Mars, Pharrell Williams, Daft Punk, Pink and others. It also showcases country music of artists like Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum and the Pistol Annies.

"The first time I saw the show was back in 2008," said Senior Airman Gabriel Villaneuva, Tops In Blue saxophonist. "I wasn't even in the military yet, but for me this was one of the main reasons I joined. My first year in the Air Force, after basic training and arriving at my first base, I saw an advertisement for a tenor saxophone position, so I applied. I got a phone call and was told I made the team. Three days later I was flown out to San Antonio and the rest is history.

"It's hard work and the days can be long, but I love doing it," he continued. "There is a lot that takes place to put on a show like this and it is definitely a group effort. Everyone plays a part to make this happen."

Each team member wears multiple hats while on the road. As performers, the artists are placed in an area which suits their skills best and allows them to showcase their talent. As teammates behind the scenes, every member also helps with stage setup, running cables, lighting setup, public relations and a host of additional responsibilities which are required to allow Tops In Blue to run smoothly.

"We actually spend more time setting everything up and taking everything down than we do performing," said Senior Airman Jessica Seaborne, Tops In Blue vocalist. "It can take anywhere from three to five hours to set up the stage and its components and an additional three to six hours to take the equipment back down. Before performances we have soundcheck. The band members will go through songs with us and we will practice our choreography a little more the get the parts down as best we can."

Throughout the tours the Airmen of Tops In Blue put their heart into every performance, and the work that goes along with it. In their words, a family bond is made while they are on the road.

"What I love the most of being on this tour is the sense of camaraderie," Villaneuva said. "Here you live in a fish bowl. We eat with each other, perform with each other and do everything together. This is my family for the next year. Once that bond is gone at the end of the tour and we're not able to do this together, we're all going to miss it."

For more information on tour dates and recruitment information, visit www.topsinblue.com.