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Tops In Blue rocks Spokane’s Riverfront Park

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
SPOKANE, Wash. --  Tops In Blue put on a show-stopping performance for the Spokane community and Team Fairchild here June 21 while on their 60th anniversary tour with performances ranging from classic rock to today's Top 40 hits.

The Air Force's premier entertainment showcase team, Tops In Blue, is composed of 35 to 40 of the most talented vocalists, musicians, dancers and technicians anywhere. Their primary purpose is to perform for military personnel and their families throughout the world. The group's enormous popularity has made them America's goodwill ambassadors around the globe.

"What an outstanding night to celebrate our Air Force and the 60th anniversary of Tops In Blue," said Col. Brian Newberry, the 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander. "First day of summer and it was an amazing vocal and dancing presentation that made you proud to be an Airman."

Tops In Blue serves as an expeditionary entertainment unit to provide quality entertainment from within Air Force resources for the Air Force family, with priority to Air Force personnel stationed worldwide at remote and deployed locations while simultaneously promoting community relations, supporting recruiting efforts and serving as ambassadors for the United States of America and the U.S. Air Force.

The team is comprised of active duty personnel who audition for the opportunity to perform. Each team begins their tour with an intense 60-day training period at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, before their 10-month tour. They are in essence their own "road crew" under the guidance of five technical personnel, the performing team is responsible for setting up more than 60,000 pounds of staging, lighting, audio, video and special effects equipment required for each performance.

Since its first world tour in 1953, the group as 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, Lee Greenwood, and many others, as well as performing at major sporting events including the Super Bowl.

"If the first 60 years are any indication of what is to come, the next 60 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," Air Force Services officials said.

After their performance here, they traveled to Malmstrom AFB, Mont., then to Minot AFB, N.D., on June 27, and Grand Forks AFB, N.D., on June 29.

"Thank you Tops In Blue for hitting it out of the park and to our force support team for giving them a first class visit," Newberry said. "60 years and still going strong!"