News Search

Get “Deja Blue” with Tops in Blue

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jenifer H. Calhoun
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  "You Can't Stop the Beat" when Tops in Blue comes to town. The troupe commemorated 55 years of entertainment with this year's show "Deja Blue". 

Approximately 1,000 people packed the Skelton Memorial Fitness Center Sept. 19, 2008, and were entertained by the Air Force's world-class entertainers. These distinguished Air Force Ambassadors provide entertainment at bases and festivals worldwide, as well as set up and tear down over 36,000 pounds of equipment, a task that can take four to five hours. 

With all of the work involved, Capt. Courtney Wallace, tour director and vocalist, stays motivated by providing smiles every night. "Being a nurse, you see a lot of pain and illness. With Tops in Blue you see life brought back showing life in full circle, plus, I have the opportunity to perform every night." 

"The show was not only breathtaking and entertaining, but Tops in Blue really touched my heart by mentioning that members of Spangdahlem that were deployed would be coming home that evening," said Teri Kendrick, whose husband Master Sgt. Allan Kendrick, 606th Air Control Squadron, was returning from a four-month deployment that same night. 

Tops in Blue kept the night alive by providing a full set dedicated to popular movies such as "Beauty and the Beast," "Titanic," "Men in Black" and of course the recent hit "Hair Spray." Throughout the show entertainers ran through the crowd and danced with members of the audience. They also made a select few blush by serenading them with tunes. 

Audience members also flashed back to the 90's with hits from Boys to Men and Tina Turner. The night was then closed with a musical version of "The Airman's Creed," the Tops in Blue tradition of "I'm Proud to be an American" and a rousing rendition of "The Air Force Song."