Tops in Blue inspires local community 'To Dream'

  • Published
  • By Hulda Bocchino
  • 30th Space Wing Public Affairs
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Tops in Blue brought down the house with their incredible performance at Cabrillo High School in Vandenberg Village, Calif., June 13. This was their fifth performance on an around the world tour that will take them to 28 countries through the rest of the year.
The show was opened by the Heyward Family, the first place winners of the family portion of the Air Force Family and Teen Talent Show. The Vandenberg family, consisting of Capt. Rob Heyward, Deborah Heyward and their five kids, Spencer, Cameron, Karissa, Dallin and Janessa, performed a wonderfully entertaining rendition of "Daddy's Nose." Their act got the crowd going for the main show: Tops in Blue.

Opening with the Tops in Blue band dressed in all white and sparkling in the stage light, the rest of the ensemble sang about reaching "the unreachable stars," a fitting start to a show whose theme is "To Dream."

The show alternated up-tempo tunes with slower melodies in genres ranging from easy listening to country, from jazz to rock n' roll, including an appearance by the King himself. The themes of the songs echoed the show's theme and there was something for everybody. The ensemble also did an incredible job of interacting with the full house of people, dancing in the aisles, throwing Mardi Gras beads into the crowd and bringing around leis.

The most poignant moment came at the end of the show. The last song the ensemble performed was Lee Greenwood's "Proud to Be an American," which brought the entire audience to their feet and resulted in massive applause as the night came to an end. That moment reminded everyone that we are all connected, no matter how far apart we are from our loved ones.

Roxanne Jones, the stepmother of Tops in Blue guitarist Airman 1st Class Shane Jones, was brought to tears after an "awesome" show. It was a bittersweet reunion, one that was all too short but worth the trip from Torrance, Calif. She said that she was so proud to see him up on stage, but as with all families, it is hard to be apart for such a long time.

The performers never lost their energy and as Thomas Edwards, chief of Air Force Entertainment and director of Tops in Blue said, "They have earned this night." The performers aren't only performers, they are also their own stage crew. They spend eight weeks at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, learning not just how to perform the show, but all the technical aspects of it as well, working 16-18 hour days for 7 days a week.

"Tops in Blue are more than performers, they are ambassadors for the Air Force and for the United States," said Col. David Buck, the 30th Space Wing commander.

After having seen multiple performances by various Tops in Blue members, Colonel Buck said he was "impressed by the amount of talent we have in the Air Force and the show keeps getting better and better each year."

"It is like bringing a piece of home to overseas troops," said Staff Sgt. Aisha Smith, a vocalist with Tops in Blue. This is her second year as a member of Tops in Blue, and it is her love of performing and the ability to perform for her fellow Airmen all over the world that drives her, Sergeant Smith said.

Senior Airman Jeffrey Collins, a vocalist with Tops in Blue, said that he hopes performing inspires people "to dream, and at the same time it fulfills our dreams. I wake up each day with a smile on my face." Airman Collins said he hopes to "keep people smiling" as Tops in Blue travels the world.

 

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