Airman 1st Class Jeffrey Cleghorn practices his guitar solo Dec. 7, 2010, before his audition with the 2011 Tops in Blue Team at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Tops in Blue held auditions for Airmen interested in being part of the 2011 Team. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sergeant Matt Davis)
Contestants for the 2011 Tops in Blue worldwide team sing holiday songs for servicemembers and their families Dec. 11, 2010, at the Fort Sam Houston Warrior Center in San Antonio, Texas. The Warrior Center provides meals, shelter, education, and various programs for wounded warriors have been injured in battle. The Tops in Blue team has developed the Give Back program that allows annual contestants to sing holiday songs for servicemembers to provide encouragement and morale support. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Vernon Young)
Staff Sgt. Rosalyn Moody performs her final stage audition Dec. 10, 2010, during the Tops in Blue Worldwide Talent Competition at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Sergeant Moody is a cargo processing supervisor from the 436th Aerial Port Squadron at Dover Air Force Base, Del. (Courtesy photo)
Senior Airman Jamie Ramirez, a ground radio journeyman from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., adjusts the stage lighting before the vocal auditions portion of the 2011 Tops in Blue worldwide auditions held at the Bob Hope Performing Arts Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, Dec. 9, 2010. Airman Ramirez was responsible for aligning the 50-foot lighting fixtures on the stage in preparation for the final show. Technical team contestants are responsible for stage crew, lighting, and audio equipment during the 10-day audition. Airman Ramirez was named best technician for the competition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Vernon Young)
Staff Sgt. Tyron Jones strikes a famous Michael Jackson pose Dec. 12, 2010, during his dance performance at the Worldwide Talent Search at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Sergeant Jones is assigned to Osan Air Base, Korea. (Courtesy photo)
A picture of contestants from the first show night is displayed Dec. 10, 2010, at the entrance of the Bob Hope Performing Arts Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, during the Tops in Blue Worldwide Talent Search. Senior Airman Clanette Boone (top center) was named the top female vocalist for the competition. (Courtesy photo)
Airman 1st Class Jonathan Salvador performs an electric guitar solo Dec. 10, 2010, during the Tops in Blue Worldwide Talent Search at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Airman Salvador was named best in show and top musician for the competition that allows Airmen to audition for spots on the Tops In Blue team. Airman Salvador is assigned to Minot Air Force Base, N.D. (Courtesy photo)
Staff Sgt. Rosalyn Moody has lip gloss applied Dec. 10, 2010, before a stage audition during the Tops in Blue Worldwide Talent Competition at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Sergeant Moody is a cargo processing supervisor from the 436th Aerial Port Squadron at Dover Air Force Base, Del. (Courtesy photo)
by Erin Tindell
Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs
12/20/2010 - SAN ANTONIO (AFNS) -- Air Force entertainment officials selected the top 11 entertainers Dec. 13 at an awards banquet here during the annual Air Force Worldwide Talent Search.
More than 70 Airmen participated in the event Dec. 6 through 13 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
The annual competition allows Airmen to showcase their singing, instrumental, dance and comedic talents as well as their technical skills in stage production. Additionally, the Airmen compete for spots on the Tops In Blue team -- the Air Force's premier entertainment group.
"All of this year's winners were junior enlisted Airmen, which speaks to the talent and professionalism coming into the Air Force," said Jeri White, the Tops In Blue production coordinator. "They truly want to be ambassadors for the Air Force and America by bringing a touch of home to troops and their families serving around the world."
The Air Force's top talents were chosen after nine days of auditions, rehearsals and interviews, which culminated in three nights of competition. The best performer took home the "Roger" award for first place and the second place winner received the "Wilco" award.
With an electric guitar rendition of Carlos Santana's "Smooth," Airman 1st Class Jonathan Salvador from Minot AFB, N.D., was named best in show for the competition.
Other winners from this year's worldwide talent search were:
Female vocalist: First place went to Senior Airman Clanette Boone from Fort Gordon, Ga., for "One Night Only." Airman 1st Class Emerald Payne from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, took second place for "Orange Colored Sky."
Male vocalist: First place went to Airman 1st Class Landon Johnson from Eglin AFB, Fla., for "A Change is Gonna Come." Staff Sgt. Mark Lindquist from Hickam AFB, Hawaii, took second place for "The Way You Look Tonight."
Vocalist self-accompanied: First place went to Airman 1st Class James Santos from McChord AFB, Wash., for "Somebody Like You" with an acoustic guitar. Senior Airman Alexandria Yeddo from Dover AFB, Del., took second place for "Baby" with a ukulele.
Instrumentalist: First place went to Airman Salvador. Senior Airman Loran Brown from Langley AFB, Va., took second place for "Livin' In Spain" medley on the drums.
Specialty: First place went to Staff Sgt. Tyron Jones from Osan AB, Korea, who danced to a medley of Michael Jackson songs. Airman 1st Class Steve Pearson from Ellsworth AFB, S.D., took second place for dancing to "I Get So Lonely" on roller skates.
Technical: Senior Airman Jamie Ramirez from Beale AFB, Calif., was named the outstanding technician.
Airmen selected for the 2011 Tops In Blue tour will be announced in January. The cast will report for three months of staging before the tour starts in late spring.
