The TOPS IN BLUE Priors Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 4, October 1996

TIB '96 Continues its European Tour As luck would have it, it rained again at Bad Aibling AS, Germany during the Tops In Blue show. But then again, it's rained during the show two of the last three years. This Bad Aibling ritual proved to be just another challenge for Tops In Blue '96 as they continue to roll through the European portion of their tour. The cast has excelled at handling those challenges and their show, "In Concert", has continued to receive rave reviews. Having just returned from touring with the group, Tom Edwards said that the biggest challenges came in the Eastern sector. At Taszar, Hungary, the group lived in tents in a makeshift Air Force compound. Morale, however was very high and the group did two outstanding shows before packed houses from all branches of the service. The response was excellent and according to Tom, the Services folks at the base did a first-class job. Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina was much more demanding. The situation in that region was so volatile that the group had to have two machine gun escorts at the front and back of their convoy. In fact, the group almost didn't get onto the base because they didn't have flak jackets and helmets, which were a base requirement. With limited AF billets, the cast was required to stay at an Army compound, which can only be described as being very dirty and desolate. Housing was so limited that Tom, "Slim" Jones, Mike Wilkinson, Bernie Rone, and Jim Pearcy, the USAFE escort, had to share quarters. Unlike AF personnel, the Army personnel at that site were very negative and very few of them or the Marines came to the show. Undaunted, the cast put on a great show nonetheless for the AF people, who were very receptive. In Croatia, the group found small crowds that were big on enthusiasm. Of course, with challenges also come memorable moments. For example, in Zagreb the cast expected the worst and wound up performing in a 3-star hotel! At San Vito AS and Camp Darby, Italy they had big outdoor shows which Tom said was "the concert at it's best!" All in all, the group has taken it all in stride. Even when they lost the keyboards due to a good deal of lightning and rain at Bad Aibling, they handled it without a hitch. After all, that's what being Tops In Blue is all about! Chief: '97 Will Honor AF 50th Anniversary Worldwide to Be Held at Andrews in January; Staging Starts in March Tom Edwards, Director of Air Force Entertainment (AFE), has announced that plans are underway for a special Tops In Blue show in 1997 that will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the United States Air Force. Entitled "Heroes" it will be a tribute to the heroes who have made the Air Force what it is today. Due to the high visibility of this prestigious celebration, the wheels are already in motion. Although the Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest isn't scheduled to be held until late January at Andrews AFB, MD, the tour itinerary for TIB '97 is scheduled to be completed by the end of this month. This is due to the large number of requests for special shows, including possible dates in New York City (on Wall St.), Washington, D.C., and several other key locations. Staging for the show will begin earlier than usual, starting in March. Because of the magnitude of this show, Tom has requested that TIB priors take an active role in recruiting individuals for this year's contest. We need to push people to get involved in the program and send video tapes in to AF Entertainment for evaluation. To make it easier this year, contestants can now send in a single tape with two or three different acts on it. AFE will review them and determine which act the contestant can compete in. The deadline for submitting tapes to AFE is December 12, 1996. Remember, performers are no longer required to compete at base level - anyone can send in a tape. Also, if you have any songs or great Air Force stories that would be appropriate for the show, please let Tom know. Let's get involved and help make the Tops In Blue commemoration of the 50th anniversary a memorable one! (Go to the top of the next column.)

Tops in Blue World Wide Web Site Hotter than Ever! Many Priors Finding Their Way Back "Home" Through the Popular Tops In Blue Home Page It's said that home is where your heart is. For many TIB priors, their heart is still with Tops In Blue. Over the years, however, they may have found themselves a long way from "home", having lost touch with the program. Now, thanks to the Tops In Blue site on the World Wide Web, many of them are finding their way home again. Take the case of John Stevenson. He was Tops In Blue back in 1967 - when the cast didn't tour, they only did a movie and a record. John had totally lost touch with the program and wasn't even sure it still existed. Then, he stumbled across the TIB web site! Ht was truly amazed and glad to know that the program was alive and well 29 years later. Welcome home, John. In full color, with exceptional graphics, the Tops In Blue web site is a "site" to behold. It's also packed with information and includes great features such as the TIB Bulletin Board, Priors' Page and much, much more. There's even a section listing TIB priors who are online, with a link that lets you e-mail someone by simply clicking on their name. So, if you can access the World Wide Web, check it out. The address is: http://www.tibpriors.org/. Once you've logged on, be sure to send an e-mail to Bob Morrow and thank him for doing such a great job in putting TIB "on-line" and giving us a "Home Sweet Home" on the World Wide Web. Bob's e-mail address is bob.morrow@tibpriors.org (Thanks T.A.! The pleasure is all mine. - Bob) SPOTLIGHT: Where Are They Now?... Name Specialty Tour Marie Mindnich Vocalist Tops In Blue '92 (For The Record) Present: Marie has one of the most interesting jobs in the Air Force. She's a flight attendant on Air Force One! Stationed at Andrews AFB, MD, the former TIB vocalist is not letting her talent go to waste. She's still singing, these days with the Andrews Inspirational Gospel Choir and The Men And Women of the Gospel. She's also still involved in the program and was a key member of last year's contest staff at the Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest held at Andrews. Name Specialty Tour Robert & Terra Wade Vocalists Tops In Blue '86 (The Liberty Cruise) Present: Rob and Terra call their experience in TIB "unforgettable". They toured in '86 and were part of the Bob Hope Birthday Show in '87. They currently reside in Del Rio, Texas where Rob is a computer engineer and Terra (formerly Terra Winkel) is a legal secretary. And they're both still entertaining! They're writing songs, performing at a number of community functions, and they're both members of a Top 40/Rock band called "Red Handed". Blue Notes Tom has made "The Premier Entertainment Showcase of the Air Force" the official TIB slogan. Fitting, indeed. Prior Cedric Tyus is currently serving as the European escort for TIB '96. Former Tops In Blue drummer James Mitchell recently moved to Nashville, TN to take a job with General Electric. Marvin Shields, another TIB drummer, is now in the Seattle area, finishing his degree in broadcasting and playing drums and bass with several bands. Bob Schmidt, longtime TIB supporter, WWTC staff member and competitor is retired and living in Alaska - he sends his regards to everyone. Yours truly recently filmed a TV pilot in Las Vegas called "Prime Time Kidz" for an independent producer and just returned from two shows at Malmstrom AFB's NCO and officer clubs. Hope you all have great Halloween and a wonderful Thanksgiving. See you in December. Ciao! ... T. A.