Airman ready to toot his horn on tour

  • Published
  • By Tyler Hemstreet
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  Growing up in Vacaville, Calif., Senior Airman James Santos got the opportunity to go see Tops in Blue, the Air Force's traveling entertainment showcase, a couple of times when he was a child.

Each time, he left the show wondering what it would be like to be a part of the team. Airman Santos doesn't have to wonder anymore.

The 25-year-old maintenance airman was selected to become a member of the 2011 Tops in Blue tour after wowing judges at the annual Air Force Worldwide Talent Search at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in December.

The annual competition allows airmen to showcase their singing, instrumental, dance and comedic talents as well as their technical skills in stage production. The airmen also compete for spots on the Tops in Blue team, which is the Air Force's premier entertainment group.

Airman Santos won first place in the vocalist self-accompanied category for his performance of the Keith Urban song "Somebody Like You" with an acoustic guitar.

After thinking he bombed the performance due to the fact he got off to a bit of a rocky start, Airman Santos pumped his fist in the air when his named was announced as the winner at the closing banquet.

"It was a surprise to say the least," said Airman Santos, who works in the 62nd Maintenance Squadron's precision measurement equipment laboratory.

But the talent judges were more impressed with Airman Santos' skills playing the trumpet, which he also displayed during the musical showcase, and they invited him to join Tops in Blue as a trumpet player.

"They asked me what I thought about playing the trumpet for Tops in Blue," said Airman Santos, who also is proficient on the drums. "I told them I would feel ecstatic if I got to drive the Tops in Blue bus."

In high school, Airman Santos was the lead trumpet in the school's jazz ensemble and even won awards at local jazz festivals for his talents. His fascination of aviation led him to enlist in the Air Force, and he's been stationed at McChord Field for nearly two years.

"There's a lot of energy in playing the horn," he said. "It's the first thing I learned how to play. It was the thing that really drew me into the realm of music."

Before leaving McChord for the talent search, he got the go-ahead from his shop's leadership. His strong work ethic and dedication to the job really showed his supervisors that he could handle a commitment like Tops in Blue if he was selected, said Tech. Sgt. Aaron Weslow, Santos' supervisor.

"He really established himself early on," said Sergeant Weslow. "He could do all the things that he was asked."

Airman Santos is now excited about the chance to tour the world and put on a great show for troops. He leaves for Lackland AFB to unite with the other performers on the tour on Jan. 23.

"A lot of it is about the service," Airman Santos said of being a member of Tops in Blue. "To let troops in deployed locations know that we're thinking about them. It gives me an opportunity to stand with them and support them."

But the commitment to Tops in Blue is no picnic. In addition to a hectic travel, practice and performance schedule, airmen also have to help setup and break down the stage at each tour stop.

"It's going to make for some long days," Airman Santos said. "It's going to be pretty hectic, but I'm really excited. I can't even tell you how blessed I am."

Sergeant Weslow knows his airman will do just fine, and it will be a great thing for his career.

"He'll come back having seen the world and have learned about other career fields and how they make up the force," he said. "Those things are good for young airmen."