Warren Airman earned position for Tops in Blue

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alex Martinez
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  Nobody was more shocked to hear the news than he was; his red face and teary eyes confirmed this. 

Filled with joy, he stepped backward and breathed a sigh of relief. He had heard rumors it could be true, but he wasn't sure. But now, it's confirmed: His talent earned him a one-year adventure of a lifetime. 

He is the newest member of Tops in Blue, the Air Force's premier entertainment showcase. 

Senior Airman Johnny Magbanua, 90th Security Support Squadron, is one of 10 Airmen selected as a male vocalist for the upcoming Tops in Blue tour year. 

"It was the happiest I've ever felt in my life," said Airman Magbanua describing what it felt like the moment he found out. 

"Airman Magbanua has a great talent, and we are all very proud of him," said Col. Fred Stoss, 90th Missile Wing vice commander. 

Colonel Stoss, Col. David Martinez, 90th Security Forces Group Commander, and Capt. Beverly Baker, 90th SSPTS commander, broke the news to Airman Magbanua in his workspace. 

"[Airman] Magbanua is an outstanding Airman in every aspect," Captain Baker said. "He has an incredible gift with his singing ability. Tops in Blue is very fortunate to get a hold of this extremely talented Airman, and he is the perfect role model to represent the Air Force across the globe." 

An aspiring professional singer, Airman Magbanua said he has always had goals to sing at a higher level, and he put his dreams in motion in November when Tops in Blue held their tryouts as part of their Worldwide Talent Contest. 

More than 300 Airman sent in an audition tape for the contest, and about 80 were selected to audition at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. In addition to male vocalists, Tops in Blue judges selected female vocalists, instrumentalists, dancers, musical variety performers, non-musical variety performers, live band performers and audio, lighting and staging technicians. 

"The tryouts weren't easy," Airman Magbanua said. "I was shaking the whole time I was on stage." 

The tryouts are not the only difficult part of the Tops in Blue experience. Airman Magbanua said the entire tour will be rewarding, yet very trying at the same time. 

Beginning March 22, the team starts the training portion of the tour, or "staging" portion, which teaches the performers their roles in the show, touring techniques, sleep habit adjustments for extremely long days and techniques on how to deal with the fast pace of the tour. 

"People think being part of Tops in Blue is easy," Airman Magbanua said. "They might think it's all traveling around the world and having a good time, but it's more than that." 

To Airman Magbanua, this whole experience is more than just "that." 

When he was 17, his mother passed away, and left a message she wanted him to follow. 

The message: Pursue a life in music.
"I'm going to live by what she wanted me to do," Airman Magbanua said. 

His mother will not be here to see him perform as a Tops in Blue member, but he said he knows she is proud. 

Airman Magbanua said he hopes to get the experience he needs for a career in music, travel the world, and perform for deployed members. 

Although performing with Tops in Blue is a year long permissive temporary duty, to Airman Magbanua, it's a chance of a lifetime.