Tops in Blue wows Liberty Wing Published July 1, 2010 By Senior Airman David Dobrydney 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- More than 600 servicemembers, spouses and children of all ages turned out to see Tops in Blue perform in Hangar 7 here June 30. "You are about to see 35 of the most talented vocalists and musicians in the Air Force," said 48th Fighter Wing Vice Commander Col. Bill Lewis as he kicked off the show. Tops in Blue is made up of active-duty Airmen from all over the Air Force, from the performers and backstage crew to the sound and video technicians. The performance featured more than 25 songs from a variety of genres to include R&B and rock and roll. "It was amazing and inspiring -- I loved it," said Felicia Rodriguez, who attended the show with her extended family, the younger members of which were dancing in the aisle to the music. Big cheers went to a tribute to Michael Jackson performed without instruments and a medley of Lady Gaga songs, complete with outlandish costumes. "Awesome, downright awesome," said Capt. Matthew Addison of the 352nd Operations Support Squadron at RAF Mildenhall, who came with his wife and daughter to enjoy the show. This was Tops in Blue's sixth stop on their 2010 "We Believe" world tour. Following their performance here, they are off for 22 shows at deployed locations. Performing downrange is one of the best parts of being in Tops in Blue for Staff Sgt. Chonte Walker, a vocalist who is also in charge of costumes for the performances. "It's rewarding to go to the desert and provide that sense of comfort for just a little while so the audience can relax and enjoy the show," she said. In order to make their show dates and provide that morale boost, Tops in Blue runs on a tight schedule. They can set up their show in three to six hours and break it back down in as little as an hour and a half before heading to their next performance. "We can perform anywhere; we're our own 'roadies,'" said Sergeant Walker. Besides performing and assisting with setup and teardown, each troupe member has other duties. For instance, Sergeant Walker, in addition to her vocalist role in the show, is also the manager for wardrobe, marketing and auditions. Those auditions are important, since that is how Tops In Blue members are selected. The show is then built around their talents, said Production Manager Jeri White. Only the most elite performers make the cut. "I was ecstatic," said Staff Sgt. Christopher Phifter, saxophone player and driver for the troupe, about being selected. "To have the chance to play my saxophone all over the world made me so happy." Before the 2010 tour ends, Tops In Blue will complete more than 100 shows in 25 countries. The hectic schedule, lack of leave or pressure of being on stage more than 10 times a month doesn't stop Tops in Blue from accomplishing their mission of providing top-notch entertainment to servicemembers. "We get to be ambassadors for the Air Force," said Sergeant Walker. "There's always that one person in the audience who leaves touched by the music and performances."