Tops In Blue was a US Air Force Special Unit tasked by the US State Department with increasing morale of coalition troops worldwide by using music performances by talented soldiers to remind our troops in harms way what they were fighting for. From 1953 to 2016 they touched the lives of millions of soldiers at almost every corner of the globe.
When I describe this to people they’re astonished that this existed and they never knew about it.
Did you know the second largest purchaser of instruments in the world is the US Military?
Tops In Blue was a highly competitive atmosphere, and in those years only the best of the best was selected from three levels of local, regional and worldwide competition. Even then, almost 40% of the people who started the tour never finished. They thought it was all singing and dancing.
I was stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, NV. When I was selected to tour the world with Tops In Blue many of my fellow troops back at my base were supportive, but most were jealous. ‘Singing and dancing?’ ‘WTF?’ ‘Soldiers ain’t performers, and the military ain’t a show choir.’ ‘What a huge waste of taxpayer dollars.’ ‘when you’re done prancing around on stage come back here to your real job.’ ‘we need weapons not wigs.’
Many who returned from the tour were treated like the plague by their fellow soldiers because of the perception of what we were doing out there.
I did multiple world tours with Tops In Blue, but the biggest impact it had on me wasn’t on stage, the applause, exotic locations or meeting powerful people. It was the work ethic. It was relentless, and we spent most of our time setting up and tearing down 60,000 pounds of gear daily in some beautiful places, some terrifying places, and some of the most remote corners of the world. Each performer had a technical and logistical role to make the show happen. Nobody got to show up for sound check and then head back to the hotel to ‘rest’ until they were ready. Sleep was optional and meals were sparse. The performers were their own tech crew. A drummer might also be the Lighting Crew Chief, First Sergeant and the Safety Officer. A singer might also be Lead Audio, Bus Driver and Rigging. I was a comic, dancer, Loadmaster and Front Truss Crew Chief.
And then there was the grueling 90 minute show that required no less than 100% of our talent and heart, 100% of the time.
Because it wasn’t about us on stage. It was about THEM. The audience. The soldiers sitting on tanks who needed to hear that one song that took them back to that place that gave them hope. That reminded them of the family they left behind or a chance to feel better or forget about the troubles and pressures they were dealing with.
Shaking their hands after every show had a huge impact on me. This performing thing isn’t about stars and talent and attention junkies. It was about service. It made the 21 hour rehearsal days for six straight weeks more than worth it. Sleeping on runways in the Middle East, long flights on cargo aircraft.
Performance as an act of servitude.
By the time you finished performing for thousands of people not only were you required to shake hands with EVERY SINGLE audience member after the show, you had to take off your show clothes and get back into steel toed boots, cargo pants, t-shirts and back braces to tear down the set and load the truck for 3 hours. Don’t forget you had to set it up as well. Hard to have an inflated ego when you have to get down in the dirt with everyone else and sweat your ass off with equipment. No groupies, no after parties, no selfies. But it was the most satisfying, muscle-aching work you can imagine.
It isn’t for everyone. As a matter of fact, we lost a lot of people who just couldn’t keep up. It was always the work that broke people down.
The internet changed all that, and getting people to go to live concerts nowadays is a completely different monster, even for the military. Audiences/fans/customers are more distracted with more choice than ever.
But what hasn’t changed is putting them first. Doing the crappy dirty work in the dark that nobody will ever see, but will appreciate in the end. There is no way to fake putting in the work to create something you believe in. People can tell. You can tell. We don’t need to please everyone, and remember that nobody ever made a statue of a critic. But quality still rises to the top. Every time. In this overindulgent world of likes/tweets/everybody-posting-their-fake-highlight-reels, I have found solace in those lessons.
The opposite is to just drift along and treat life like it’s something that happens to you and not in you.
Comfort zones are like quicksand. Spend too much time in them, and you find yourself stuck.
Most people will never travel to places like 46 states and 11 countries every year for five years.
But we all have gifts, and gifts are best when shared.
For so many people who have blessed me with their attention, audience, encouragement and applause in 2020, stay tuned. It’s all for you.
Will you join me?
Go to kahlilashanti.com and sign up for the mailing list to be the first to know about what’s next.
My Brother! Awesome as always! Keep on keepin' on! Proud of you!! --- Hersh
I've been following your entertainment career for sometime now & really appreciate what you're doing for yourself & others to help uplift the spirit of so many people. 👍 Keep up the good work & my God continue to bless you in your endeavors. Have fun & stay safe...Uncle Greg.