Tops in Blue entertains with oldies, but goodies

Staff Sgt. Corey Sims (right) leads the 2008 Tops in Blue performers, the Air Force’s premier expeditionary entertainment group, in a rendition of “God Bless the USA” during a public concert Sunday at the Davis Theater. The song is a tradition for the group, as it has been using the song to close its concerts for more than 20 years. (Air Force photo by Jamie Pitcher)

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Tops in Blue entertains with oldies, but goodies

Airman 1st Class Jesse Hernandez-Lora rocks out on his tenor sax to "Life is a Highway" during the 2008 Tops in Blue tour, which performed for a near-capacity crowd Sunday at the Davis Theater. (Air Force photo by Jamie Pitcher)

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Tops in Blue entertains with oldies, but goodies

(Left to right) Tech. Sgt. Bridgett Johnson, Senior Airman Cristy Lagazo, Capt. Courtney Wallace, Tech. Sgt. Chandra Smith and Senior Airman Gina Bauza perform "Natural Woman" during Sunday's performance on the 2008 Tops in Blue tour. (Air Force photo by Jamie Pitcher)

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Tops in Blue entertains with oldies, but goodies

Published Nov. 7, 2008

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Air Force's premier entertainment group performed for a near-capacity crowd at the Davis Theater in downtown Montgomery Sunday. The group, which consists of active-duty Air Force members, tours the world performing for military members and their families.

The concert, themed "Deja Blue," lasted almost two hours and included three segments that consisted of songs from past performances: the first was a medley of well-known movie theme songs, a country music section, and the event ended with a traditional patriotic theme.

The performance included songs from past performances, such as "Circle of Life" by Elton John and "You Can't Stop the Beat" from the Broadway musical "Hairspray." This and every show ends with "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood, a conclusion that has become a Tops in Blue tradition for more than 20 years.

The group is in the middle of a hectic performance schedule that includes more than 90 concerts in only nine months. Following the show, the 35-member group was congratulated on their performance and their dedication to excellence by the 42nd Air Base Wing vice commander Col. Tyrone Woodyard, after which he coined the group. As part of another Tops in Blue tradition, several members then heard from local past members of the traveling musical group and recognized their family members who were in attendance.

For more information on Tops in Blue, visit www.topsinblue.com.