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Luke Reservists entertains with Tops in Blue

  • Published
  • By Capt. Elizabeth Magnusson
  • 944th Fighter Wing
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, ARIZ. --  Tops In Blue, the United States Air Force's premier entertainment group, took center stage at the Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, June 5.  Among the entertainers was some "hometown" talent -- Senior Airman Joleen Dedmon, a dental assistant in the 944th Medical Squadron.  

The 29-member group performed a free, 90-minute show, inviting people to "listen" to the music of life through the sounds we hear every day. Dedmon first place in the female vocalist category at the Air Force Worldwide Talent Search held in January in San Antonio before she was selected as a member of this year's Tops In Blue team.

The group belted out songs by the Doobie Brothers, Earth, Wind & Fire, sang the popular songs of Bruno Mars and Maroon 5. They serenaded the audience with the all-American country music of Darius Rucker and Carrie Underwood. They sang tribute to Michael Jackson through the ages and of course, no Tops In Blue show would be complete without patriotic tunes of God Bless America and Proud to be an American by Lee Greenwood. Combined with the dazzling lights, costumes, and choreography it was a show that energized and entertained the audience.

"It was an incredible show and I was thrilled to see a member of our 944th team performing in last night's Tops In Blues show," said Col. Anne Gunter, 944th Mission Support Group commander. "This was the best performance from them I've seen during my Air Force career. Airman Dedmon is a talented performer and fit right in on stage. We are all so proud of her and excited that she was able to seize this once in a life time opportunity."

Known as the Air Force's Expeditionary Entertainers, this year's team of Active-Duty and Reserve military members will travel to 20 countries and perform almost 130 shows in 10 months.

Celebrating more than 59 years, Tops In Blue serves as an expeditionary entertainment unit providing quality entertainment from within Air Force resources for the Air Force family, with priority on Air Force personnel stationed worldwide at remote and deployed locations.

Each year, a worldwide talent search is conducted, and the top performers are chosen to join Tops In Blue for a one year tour promoting community relations, supporting recruiting efforts and serving as ambassadors for the United States of America and the U.S. Air Force.

In addition to performing, the team, under the guidance of five technical personnel, is responsible for setting up more than 64,000 pounds of staging, lighting, audio, and special effects equipment required for each performance. Each member is assigned logistical responsibilities such as group transportation, airlift, lodging, wardrobe, palletizing, etc.

Since the first tour in 1953, the group has performed more than 7,000 shows and will continue to bring a touch of Air Force pride to their audiences.

For more information on the Tops In Blue program or how to join, visit their website at www.topsinblue.com.