This world-renown
production, Tops In Blue, is an all-active duty
US Air Force special unit made up of talented
amateur performers selected for their entertainment
abilities. Each year, thousands compete in base
talent contests and the most talented move on
to higher levels of competition. The result
is an elite group composed of 35 of the most
talented vocalists, musicians, and dancers anywhere.
Known as the Air Forces’ Expeditionary
Entertainers; the group’s main mission
is to perform for military personnel and their
families throughout the world. The enormous
popularity of the group has also made them America's
goodwill ambassadors around the globe.
Each team begins their tour
with an intense 45 day training period at Lackland
Air Force Base, Texas, "Home of Tops In
Blue". This training consists of a highly
accelerated educational process to prepare them
to succeed as world-class entertainers and distinguished
Air Force Ambassadors during their nine month
tour. The performers must not only master the
instrumental, vocal, choreography, and staging
requirements of the performance, but also the
intricate responsibilities of being their own
technical staff. The performing team under the
guidance of five technical personnel is responsible
for setting up over 36,000 pounds of staging,
lighting, audio, and special effects equipment
required for each performance. They must also
become a complete self-contained operational
unit with each member being responsible for
logistical responsibilities such as ground transportation,
airlift, lodging, dining, wardrobe, palletizing,
etc. throughout the tour.
Since its first world tour
in '53, the group has also performed on film,
produced albums, and appeared on national television
with such legends as Ed Sullivan, Bob Hope,
Alabama, Barbara Mandrell, BOYZ II MEN, and
many others. They performed the entire halftime
shows for the 1981 Garden State Bowl and Super
Bowl XIX. They have performed for heads of state
and dignitaries throughout the world. They have
toured throughout Western, Central, and Eastern
Europe, the Far East, Middle East, Central America,
Canada, and all 50 of the United States. Countries
such as Taiwan, Bulgaria, Iceland, Thailand,
Saudi Arabia, Albania, Vietnam, and Cuba have
all experienced the extraordinary entertainment
of Tops In Blue. Since 1996, their mission led
them through hostile locations to build morale
for our nation's joint military services supporting
Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia-Herzegovina
and contingency bases in Croatia, Hungary, Italy
and Turkey. In 2002, Tops in Blue continued
their expeditionary mission by being among the
first entertainment groups to travel into the
most forward location in Afghanistan, Uzebikstan,
Pakistan, Qatar, and Kyrgyzstan. If the first
fifty years are any indication of what is to
come, the next fifty years will exceed all expectations
as Tops In Blue continues to bring a touch of
home, a touch of America, and above all, the
pride of the Air Force to all their audiences.
Tops In Blue tours
worldwide each year under the auspices of the
Air Force Services Agency,
located in San Antonio.
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