Airmen win honors at worldwide talent search

  • Published
  • By Erin Tindell
  • Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs
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.

For a schedule of Tops In Blue performances or more information, visit www.topsinblue.com. Follow Tops In Blue at www.twitter.com/aftopsinblue, the Facebook fan page or read blog entries at www.tib.dodlive.mil.