Members of Tops in Blue perform during their annual world tour,"Listen," Oct. 15 at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The Tops In Blue 2012 World Tour, entitled “Listen,” features songs by Whitney Houston, Maroon 5, Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum and many others. Tops In Blue tours every year visiting stateside bases and overseas locations providing entertainment for Airmen, families and members of the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez)
Senior Airman Joanell Jacques, Tops in Blue vocalist, opens the Tops in Blue event with fellow group members at Aviano Air Base, Oct. 15. This year’s theme is “listen” and included songs from famous artists such as Whitney Houston, Kelly Clarkson, Maroon 5, and Michael Jackson. (U.S. Air Force photo/Matthew Lotz)
Senior Airman Emmanuel Maldonado Rosario, Tops in Blue vocalist, sings “Party Rock Anthem” during a Tops in Blue performance at Aviano Air Base, Oct. 15. The Tops in Blue 2012 World Tour, entitled “Listen,” features songs by Whitney Houston, Maroon 5, Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum and many others. Tops in Blue tours every year visiting stateside bases and overseas locations providing entertainment for Airmen, families and members of the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Matthew Lotz)
Senior Airman Timothy Sentz, Tops in Blue vocalist performs during the 2012 world tour, "Listen," Oct. 15 at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Tops in Blue is composed of 35 to 40 vocalists, musicians, dancers and technicians whose primary purpose is to perform for military personnel and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez)
Tops in Blue technicians watch over a performance during their annual world tour, "Listen," Oct. 15 at Aviano AB, Italy. Technical personnel on the team are responsible for setting up more than 64,000 pounds of staging, lighting, audio, video and special effects equipment required for each performance. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez)
Tech. Sgt. Michael Menges, Tops in Blue lighting director, adjusts the light settings at Aviano Air Base, Oct. 15. Tops in Blue, the oldest entertainment group in the United States Air Force, performed at the Personnel Alert Holding Area here for Team Aviano fans. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Matthew Lotz)
by Airman 1st Class Matthew Lotz
31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
10/16/2012 - AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- Having performed more than 7,000 shows in its history, Tops in Blue, the oldest entertainment group in the United States Air Force, performed at the Personnel Alert Holding Area here for Team Aviano fans Oct. 15.
The theme for this year's tour is "Listen" and features rhythm and blues songs from the golden oldies era of the 1950s and 1960s to the latest top 40 songs. The group's primary mission is to entertain all military personnel and their families throughout the world and this year's 10-month tour includes 130 performances throughout the U.S. and more than 20 countries.
"I joined Tops in Blue because I love the Air Force, singing and performing," said Senior Airman Emmanuel Maldonado Rosario, Tops in Blue vocalist. "What better way to bring joy to the Airmen and their families."
The team is composed of 35 Airmen with a variety of career fields, who competed in a multilevel competition in order to be selected. Since 1953, all Air Force personnel have been given the opportunity to sing, dance and play instruments for Tops in Blue.
"The most enjoyable part about tonight's performance was watching my brother perform professionally on stage for the first time," said Chief Master Sgt. John Maldonado, 603rd Air Control Squadron communications operations and maintenance superintendent. "I've seen Top's in Blue several times throughout my career but to actually have a family member perform in it, makes it that much more personable."
At the conclusion of the 2-hour show, audience members rose to their feet to help sing the final two songs, "God Bless the U.S.A." and the "U.S. Air Force Song," as a tour tradition. With more than 35 stops left in the tour, the group will make its next stop to Incirilik Air Base, Turkey, Oct. 16.
