Airman 1st Class Kristen Wash sings a solo during the Tops in Blue "Rhythm Nation" world-tour Dec. 23, 2011, at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Wash is a medical material journeyman from Joint Base Andrews, Md. Tops in Blue covered more than 20 countries in a 10-month period performing songs from the 1950's to today. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Master Sgt. Kelly Kruger, 376th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, blushes as 1st Lt. Robert Doyle serenades her Dec. 23, 2011, during the Tops in Blue "Rhythm Nation" world-tour at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Kruger is deployed here from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Doyle is an acquisitions program manager from Vandenberg AFB, Calif. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Tops in Blue performers reenact a scene from the 1950's Dec. 23, 2011, during the Tops in Blue "Rhythm Nation" world-tour at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Tops in Blue is composed of 35 to 40 vocalists, musicians, dancers and technicians selected from the Air Force for a one-year special duty.(U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Senior Airman Emerald Payne, sings with the band Dec. 23, 2011, during the Tops in Blue "Rhythm Nation" world-tour at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Payne is an air transportation journeyman from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Tops in Blue covered more than 20 countries in a 10-month period performing songs from the 1950's to today.(U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Members of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing stand to show their appreciation for musical interments presented to the 376th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron from Tops in Blue Dec. 23, 2011, at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Staff Sgt. Tommie Crutcher sings while band members play accompaniment music Dec. 23, 2011, during the Tops in Blue "Rhythm Nation" world-tour at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Crutcher is a Services journeyman from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. Tops in Blue covered more than 20 countries in a 10-month period performing songs from the 1950's to today.(U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Airman 1st Class Aimee Grills walks through the audience Dec. 23, 2011, singing to service members at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, during the Tops in Blue world-tour "Rhythm Nation". Grills is an engineering apprentice at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Tops in Blue is composed of 35 to 40 vocalists, musicians, dancers and technicians selected from the Air Force for a one-year special duty.(U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Tops in Blue perform their world-tour "Rhythm Nation" for service members at Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Dec. 23, 2011. Tops in Blue covered more than 20 countries in a 10-month period performing songs from the 1950's to today. Tops in Blue is composed of 35 to 40 vocalists, musicians, dancers and technicians selected from the Air Force for a one-year special duty.(U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Airman 1st Class Gabriel Villanueva plays saxophone while Senior Airman Patrick O'Shaughnessy dances to the rhythm, Dec. 23, 2011, during the Tops in Blue "Rhythm Nation" world-tour at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Villanueva is an aircrew flight equipment apprentice from Dover Air Force Base, Del., O'Shaughnessy is a Services journeyman from Malmstrom AFB, Mont. Tops in Blue is composed of 35 to 40 vocalists, musicians, dancers and technicians selected from the Air Force for a one-year special duty.(U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Airman 1st Class Aimee Grills sings a Christmas song with other vocalists Dec. 23, 2011 during the Tops in Blue "Rhythm Nation" world-tour at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Grills is an engineering apprentice at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Following the Rhythm Nation performance service members had the opportunity to take a photo with Santa and the performers.(U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Maj. Beverly Baker, 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron commander, poses with a picture with Santa while service members wait in line for the same opportunity Dec. 23, 2011, following the Tops in Blue" Rhythm Nation" performance at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan.(U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
by Senior Airman Lynsie Nichols
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
12/28/2011 - TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- Tops in Blue performed "Rhythm Nation" for deployed service members here Dec. 23.
This is the second time the group has visited the Transit Center in 2011.
"A lot of service members are away from their families during the holiday season," said Edward Jones, Tops in Blue director. "We perform these shows to take their minds off that for a little while."
Traveling is the norm for Airmen who perform with Tops in Blue. Composed of 35 to 40 vocalists, musicians, dancers and technicians across the Air Force, the group spends hours traveling to multiple locations in the United States and more than 20 countries. They perform close to 140 shows during a 10-month period.
"People have the misconception that all they do is sing and dance for their career," Jones said. "These Airmen actually have other jobs that they are released from for the tour."
The performance included music from the 1950s and ended with a special performance of "I'll Be Home for Christmas."
A donation of new instruments valued at approximately $5,000 was also made to the 376th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron for the recreation program here.
"This is the first time the Transit Center has received a gift like this from Tops in Blue," said Lt. Col. Richard Roberts, 376th EFSS commander. "We hope to obtain volunteers that will be willing to teach others to play."
Tops in Blue brings together people of all nationalities, races and cultures through music, contributing directly to the mission of the Transit Center of building partnerships and enhancing relationships in an informal setting, Roberts said.
"We use non-appropriated funds and sponsorship dollars to execute our mission," Jones said. "Tops in Blue builds morale, and some of the people who need it most are deployed Airmen."
