Tops In Blue: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively ← Previous edit Next edit →Content deleted Content addedVisual WikitextInline

Revision as of 20:50, 13 February 2011 editTParis (talk \| contribs)Autopatrolled, Administrators30,361 edits Fixing 2nd ref title← Previous edit		Revision as of 21:01, 13 February 2011 edit undoTParis (talk \| contribs)Autopatrolled, Administrators30,361 edits Adding controversy sectionNext edit →
Line 30:		Line 30:
	{{Expand section\|date=February 2011}}		{{Expand section\|date=February 2011}}
	]Air Force Major Al Reilly created the Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest in 1953, and Tops In Blue began as a tour showcasing the best members of the contest<ref name="tib">{{cite web\|url=http://www.topsinblue.com/history.html\|title=More than 50 years of world class entertainment\|accessdate=February 7, 2011}}</ref> performing at 230 locations in 235 days.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.nwguardian.com/2011/01/27/9389/an-entertainment-showcase.html\|title=Tops in Blue An entertainment showcase\|publisher=Northwest Guardian\|author=Lorin T. Smith\|date=January 27th, 2011\|accessdate=February 13, 2011}}</ref> Initially, the contest was judged in 14 categories ranging from ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name="wwtc">{{cite web\|url=http://www.topsinblue.com/page320029.html\|title=Worldwide Talent Contest}}</ref> It was judged by celebrities like ], ], ], and ].<ref name="wwtc"></ref> In 1985, Ed Sullivan invited Tops in blue to perform at ], ] on his show "]" where Airman Second Class ] led the show as ].<ref name="tib"></ref> In 1964, the Tops In Blue left the stage to record in a movie studio to produce films and records for distribution throughout the Air Force.<ref name="tib"></ref> However, in 1971 Tops in Blue gained Air Force support to return to the stage on their live tour debut in 1972.<ref name="tib"></ref>		]Air Force Major Al Reilly created the Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest in 1953, and Tops In Blue began as a tour showcasing the best members of the contest<ref name="tib">{{cite web\|url=http://www.topsinblue.com/history.html\|title=More than 50 years of world class entertainment\|accessdate=February 7, 2011}}</ref> performing at 230 locations in 235 days.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.nwguardian.com/2011/01/27/9389/an-entertainment-showcase.html\|title=Tops in Blue An entertainment showcase\|publisher=Northwest Guardian\|author=Lorin T. Smith\|date=January 27th, 2011\|accessdate=February 13, 2011}}</ref> Initially, the contest was judged in 14 categories ranging from ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name="wwtc">{{cite web\|url=http://www.topsinblue.com/page320029.html\|title=Worldwide Talent Contest}}</ref> It was judged by celebrities like ], ], ], and ].<ref name="wwtc"></ref> In 1985, Ed Sullivan invited Tops in blue to perform at ], ] on his show "]" where Airman Second Class ] led the show as ].<ref name="tib"></ref> In 1964, the Tops In Blue left the stage to record in a movie studio to produce films and records for distribution throughout the Air Force.<ref name="tib"></ref> However, in 1971 Tops in Blue gained Air Force support to return to the stage on their live tour debut in 1972.<ref name="tib"></ref>

			== Controversy ==
			In 2010, ] published two articles questioning the alue of Tops In Blue with claims that soldiers are "voluntold" to attend and further doubts that the Tops In Blue is truly a self contained unit.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.stripes.com/opinion/he-says-no-to-tops-in-blue-1.99561\|title=He says no to Tops In Blue\|author=Master Sgt. David Smoak\|date=February 22, 2010\|accessdate=February 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.stripes.com/opinion/time-to-retire-tops-in-blue-1.98899\|title=Time to retire Tops In Blue\|author=Master Sgt. Bob Pearson (retired)\|date=February 3, 2010\|accessdate=February 13, 2011}}</ref>

	== Notable events ==		== Notable events ==

Revision as of 21:01, 13 February 2011

Tops In Blue

Musical artist

Tops In Blue is a touring performance ensemble made up of active duty members of the United States Air Force formed in 1953. For the past 57 years, Tops In Blue has traveled to more than 20 countries to perform more than 120 times each year for Airman and families around the world. They entertain more than 250,000 military personnel and their families, presenting an average of 120 performances at 100 locations worldwide throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Central America, Alaska, and the Pacific.

Ensemble

It is composed of 35 vocalists, dancers, musicians and technicians and is considered the Air Force's expeditionary entertainment unit. Performers are expected to be in top physical condition because they are their own roadies. Performers unload 64,000 pounds of equipment which uses a stage and truss which are built to fit on six pallets or one truck trailer. They spend four hours settings up the stage prior to a show. Their primary purpose is to perform for military personnel and their families throughout the world. Their enormous popularity has also made them America's goodwill ambassadors around the globe. They have appeared on national television with Ed Sullivan, Bob Hope, Alabama, Barbara Mandrell, Boyz II Men, Lee Greenwood, and Lea Michele.

Tops In Blue is produced by the Entertainment Branch of the Programs Directorate, Headquarters Air Force Services Agency. The program is funded in part by appropriated funds and supplemented with nonappropriated funds that are generated by Air Force people as well as sponsorship by Coca-Cola. They have produced five movies and two albums.

Audition

Candidates for Tops In Blue submit a video performance to Headquarters Air Force Services Agency. If selected for audition, they are flown from all over the world to Lackland AFB for a ten day talent show and multilevel competition judged by former Tops In Blue members. The performers are picked in six categories: male vocalist, female vocalist, instrumentalist, musicial variety, dance, and non-musical variety including comedians, magicians, and dramatists. Each year is a new group and past members are not guaranteed to return. Those selected attend a 45 day training period at Lackland AFB.

History

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2011)

File:Major-al-reilly.png

Major Al Reilly

Air Force Major Al Reilly created the Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest in 1953, and Tops In Blue began as a tour showcasing the best members of the contest performing at 230 locations in 235 days. Initially, the contest was judged in 14 categories ranging from comedy, drama, pop, jazz, hillbilly, vocal and instrumental. It was judged by celebrities like Barry White, Les Brown, Richard Roundtree, and Esther Williams. In 1985, Ed Sullivan invited Tops in blue to perform at Mitchel Air Field, NY on his show "Toast of the Town" where Airman Second Class Jerry Van Dyke led the show as Master of Ceremonies. In 1964, the Tops In Blue left the stage to record in a movie studio to produce films and records for distribution throughout the Air Force. However, in 1971 Tops in Blue gained Air Force support to return to the stage on their live tour debut in 1972.

Controversy

In 2010, Stars and Stripes published two articles questioning the alue of Tops In Blue with claims that soldiers are "voluntold" to attend and further doubts that the Tops In Blue is truly a self contained unit.

Notable events

In 1981 they performed the halftime show at the Garden State Bowl.
In 1985, an expanded production of Tops In Blue performed with over 1,400 volunteers from Mather AFB at the halftime show of Super Bowl XIX.
In 2002 at the Daytona 500
In 2005 they performed the National Anthem for Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
In 2009 they performed the National Anthem at the Coca-Cola 600.
In 2011 Tops in Blue performed "America the Beautiful" during Superbowl XLV alongside actress Lea Michele.

References

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Air Force.

^ "Springer Journal: "Tops in Blue"... A Super Bowl Event". January 27, 2005. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton (October 6, 2010). "Coming together in true Scandinavian style". Retrieved February 13, 2011.
Kahlil Ashanti at IMDb
^ "Air Force performance group, 'Tops in Blue,' staging free show in Monterey Feb. 8". January 27, 2011.
Erin Tindell (January 31, 2011). "Tops In Blue to perform at Super Bowl XLV". Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
^ "Tops In Blue". October 17, 2005.
^ "Air Force's Tops In Blue to perform at Super Bowl pre-game". January 31, 2011.
"Tops in Blue to Perform at Super Bowl". February 1, 2011.
^ "About us". Tops In Blue.
^ A1C Jette Warnick. "Tops in Blue: It's not just singing, dancing we do".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
"Tops In Blue". January 28, 2011.
"Tops In Blue - March 4th".
^ "Worldwide Talent Contest".
SrA Catharine Schmidt (March 26, 2004). "Air Force Tops in Blue Selections". Air Force News Service.
^ "More than 50 years of world class entertainment". Retrieved February 7, 2011.
Lorin T. Smith (January 27th, 2011). "Tops in Blue An entertainment showcase". Northwest Guardian. Retrieved February 13, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
Master Sgt. David Smoak (February 22, 2010). "He says no to Tops In Blue". Retrieved February 13, 2011.
Master Sgt. Bob Pearson (retired) (February 3, 2010). "Time to retire Tops In Blue". Retrieved February 13, 2011.
"Air Force's Tops in Blue to give free performance for community". October 19, 2010.
"Lap-by-Lap: Charlotte". NASCAR. May 26, 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
"Tops in Blue to perform at Super Bowl". January 31, 2011.

External links

United States Air Force

Leadership

Structure

Commands	Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations
Direct Reporting Units	District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy
Major commands	ACC AETC AFGSC AFMC AFRC AFSOC AMC PACAF USAFE–AFAFRICA
Numbered Air Forces	First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Expeditionary Fifteenth Sixteenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second
Wings ANG Groups ANG Squadrons ANG Security Forces Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol

Personnel and
training

Uniforms and
equipment

History and
traditions

Category

Categories:

Revision as of 20:50, 13 February 2011 editTParis (talk \| contribs)Autopatrolled, Administrators30,361 edits Fixing 2nd ref title← Previous edit		Revision as of 21:01, 13 February 2011 edit undoTParis (talk \| contribs)Autopatrolled, Administrators30,361 edits Adding controversy sectionNext edit →
Line 30:		Line 30:
	{{Expand section\|date=February 2011}}		{{Expand section\|date=February 2011}}
	]Air Force Major Al Reilly created the Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest in 1953, and Tops In Blue began as a tour showcasing the best members of the contest<ref name="tib">{{cite web\|url=http://www.topsinblue.com/history.html\|title=More than 50 years of world class entertainment\|accessdate=February 7, 2011}}</ref> performing at 230 locations in 235 days.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.nwguardian.com/2011/01/27/9389/an-entertainment-showcase.html\|title=Tops in Blue An entertainment showcase\|publisher=Northwest Guardian\|author=Lorin T. Smith\|date=January 27th, 2011\|accessdate=February 13, 2011}}</ref> Initially, the contest was judged in 14 categories ranging from ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name="wwtc">{{cite web\|url=http://www.topsinblue.com/page320029.html\|title=Worldwide Talent Contest}}</ref> It was judged by celebrities like ], ], ], and ].<ref name="wwtc"></ref> In 1985, Ed Sullivan invited Tops in blue to perform at ], ] on his show "]" where Airman Second Class ] led the show as ].<ref name="tib"></ref> In 1964, the Tops In Blue left the stage to record in a movie studio to produce films and records for distribution throughout the Air Force.<ref name="tib"></ref> However, in 1971 Tops in Blue gained Air Force support to return to the stage on their live tour debut in 1972.<ref name="tib"></ref>		]Air Force Major Al Reilly created the Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest in 1953, and Tops In Blue began as a tour showcasing the best members of the contest<ref name="tib">{{cite web\|url=http://www.topsinblue.com/history.html\|title=More than 50 years of world class entertainment\|accessdate=February 7, 2011}}</ref> performing at 230 locations in 235 days.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.nwguardian.com/2011/01/27/9389/an-entertainment-showcase.html\|title=Tops in Blue An entertainment showcase\|publisher=Northwest Guardian\|author=Lorin T. Smith\|date=January 27th, 2011\|accessdate=February 13, 2011}}</ref> Initially, the contest was judged in 14 categories ranging from ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name="wwtc">{{cite web\|url=http://www.topsinblue.com/page320029.html\|title=Worldwide Talent Contest}}</ref> It was judged by celebrities like ], ], ], and ].<ref name="wwtc"></ref> In 1985, Ed Sullivan invited Tops in blue to perform at ], ] on his show "]" where Airman Second Class ] led the show as ].<ref name="tib"></ref> In 1964, the Tops In Blue left the stage to record in a movie studio to produce films and records for distribution throughout the Air Force.<ref name="tib"></ref> However, in 1971 Tops in Blue gained Air Force support to return to the stage on their live tour debut in 1972.<ref name="tib"></ref>

			== Controversy ==
			In 2010, ] published two articles questioning the alue of Tops In Blue with claims that soldiers are "voluntold" to attend and further doubts that the Tops In Blue is truly a self contained unit.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.stripes.com/opinion/he-says-no-to-tops-in-blue-1.99561\|title=He says no to Tops In Blue\|author=Master Sgt. David Smoak\|date=February 22, 2010\|accessdate=February 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.stripes.com/opinion/time-to-retire-tops-in-blue-1.98899\|title=Time to retire Tops In Blue\|author=Master Sgt. Bob Pearson (retired)\|date=February 3, 2010\|accessdate=February 13, 2011}}</ref>

	== Notable events ==		== Notable events ==

Misplaced Pages