Tops in Blue rocks Incirlik

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman William A. O'Brien
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --   Hundreds of Team Incirlik members attended a performance by Tops in Blue Sept. 27, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey.

Since 1953, Tops in Blue annually entertains more than 250,000 service members and their families in 20 countries, presenting an average of 120 performances at 100 locations worldwide. This year's first performance took place at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. May 25.

"We are about half way through the tour," said Senior Airman Patrick O'Shaughnessy, Tops In Blue vocalist. " We're on tour until about February, so this is right in the middle ... we still have a very busy schedule."

Tops in Blue is a group of 35 to 40 Airmen comprised of vocalists, dancers, musicians and technicians who perform for deployed service members and coalition forces around the world.

"I feel like this went really well. As long as the crowd is having a good time and we're having fun, it's a great show," explained O'Shaughnessy. "There were no big bumps and everyone was having fun backstage. It went really good tonight."

The 2011 tour, "Rhythm Nation," brings to life music of America from the early 1900s through today. It provides a glimpse of a century of popular music and portrays how it has grown since the early 20th century.

Before and after each performance the team is responsible for readying everything for the performance.

"We're our own stage crew. We have no road crew. We have to lift all 65,000 pounds of equipment every day," said O'Shaughnessy. "We came here early this morning, around 8 a.m., and we'll be here until around 3 a.m. packing up. After set up, we spend the rest of the day rehearsing. We test how things are going to sound based on that specific facility. "

Before the show Col. Christopher Craige, 39th Air Base Wing commander welcomed the attendees and thanked the volunteers and performers for their efforts to put the show together.

"I would be remiss to not thank all the volunteers who are here hosting arrival and set up. It is a pleasure to be out here and this is going to be a fun night," said Craige. "These are our Airmen out here. I've been around the world and seen all types of entertainers and a lot of times the first thing they do is go downtown, which is great; but the first thing these guys (did when they arrived is they) came in and spent all day putting together this whole setup together."

For more information about Tops In Blue, visit www.topsinblue.com.  

Follow the group on Twitter at www.twitter.com/aftopsinblue, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tops-In-Blue/178040815544510 or visit the blog at http://tib.dodlive.mil.