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Tops in Blue rocks Frontier Park

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jason Wiese
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- --  For some Airmen, living up to the core value of "Excellence in All We Do" means being technically knowledgable and detailed in their work. For others, it means staying on beat and hitting the right notes.

Tops in Blue's assortment of active-duty singers, musicians and technicians exhibited their excellence at Frontier Park here July 4, 2015, when they performed a free show for a crowd that filled up one-half of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Arena.

With flashy stage lights, flashy costumes and flashing smiles, the performers played and sang an array of songs including The Star-Spangled Banner, a barbershop quartet ditty and pop hits.

Nathan Reynolds, Cheyenne resident, attended the performance at the behest of his friend, Senior Airman Cameron Horn, 153rd Logistics Readiness Squadron.

"It was good -- they were good," Reynolds said. "The covers they did sounded like the original singers. I was especially impressed by the men when they sang Sugar by Maroon 5. For the women, all I can say is 'Wow!'"

Reynolds' sentiments reflected what Staff Sgt. Benny Casaverde, Tops in Blue bass player, had to say about the crowd.

"The venue was amazing -- there's no comparable venue -- the crowd was amazing," Casaverde said.

After the show, Casaverde said the performers still felt pumped from the energy the audience gave them during the show.

"It was one of the best shows we had so far in this tour," he said of their Cheyenne performance, the ninth of their tour. "The stage was perfect. The weather, the volunteers -- they make it really easy for us. Cheyenne has a good military community."

He said performing on Independence Day made the performers, as well as the crowd, especially excited for the show.

"The crowd was already excited before we even got on stage, and that gives us more energy to give back," Casaverde said

Tops in Blue is an all-active duty, U.S. Air Force special unit made up of talented amateur performers selected for their entertainment abilities.

Tops in Blue is one of the oldest and most widely traveled entertainment groups of its kind. Composed of 35 to 40 of the most talented vocalists, musicians, dancers and techncians, their primary purpose is to perform for military personnel and their families throughout the world. However, the enormous popularity of the group has also made them America's goodwill ambassadors around the globe.

Outside of his Tops in Blue mission, Casaverde works as a personnelist with the 802nd Force Support Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Casaverde said he watched Tops in Blue perform years ago and fell in love with all they do. He did some research and learned the process to audition and became part of the troupe.

"I love music. I love what I do in the Air Force," he said. "The program is a really great career opportunity. To anyone who wants to do it: try out."

More information about Tops in Blue and show schedules can be found on their website, https://www.usafservices.com/default.aspx?TabID=1263, and their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/topsinblue.