Ellsworth Airman part of 2012 Tops in Blue group

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anania Tekurio
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  First Lt. Ashley Elmore, 28th Force Support Squadron manpower and personnel flight commander, has been accepted to be a performer in this year's Tops in Blue troupe.

Tops in Blue, a special active-duty unit made up of talented amateur performers, held its annual Air Force worldwide talent search at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas from Jan. 9 to 16, 2012. Airmen from around the globe auditioned and showcased their singing, instrumental, dance and specialty talents as well as their technical skills in stage production.

From the 90 Airmen who participated in the talent search only the top 35 entertainers were selected and Elmore was among them. She received first place in the vocalist, self-accompanied category for her performance of CeeLo Green's, "Forget You" with her ukulele.

For Elmore, the road to making the Tops in Blue team began during the winter holiday season of 2010 when she was deployed to Southwest Asia. Being deployed can be trying for many people, particularly during the winter holiday season. Elmore was one of many service members in the audience for a Tops in Blue performance at her deployed location.

"Being away from family is a lonely time," Elmore said. "Watching the Tops in Blue show really helped me stay in good spirits."

While deployed, she participated in "Bagram Idol", a talent competition based on the American Idol TV program. Elmore won the competition, after which Brig. Gen. Jack Briggs II, with whom she served in Afghanistan, encouraged her to audition for Tops in Blue. While she wasn't able to audition in 2011, she got her chance in 2012. In early February, she received word that she was picked to be a performer for Tops in Blue.

"I remember how I felt watching Tops in Blue while I was deployed, and I'm really excited that I will be able to give that back through my participation," Elmore said.

According to Elmore, music has always been a part of her life.

"My mom has always sung, and growing up, my sister and I would do a variety of acts in town," Elmore said.

Elmore's love and inspiration for music covers all genres of music. One of her favorite musical artists is Dent May. Her fascination with the ukulele started one Easter when her mother gave her and her sister the instrument as a gift.

"I was given a baritone ukulele," Elmore said. "My sister got one too, but she didn't take to it as much as I did."

And with that Elmore began her life-long musical journey with the ukulele.

Elmore's musical talent, through Tops in Blue, will be shared with servicemembers and others throughout the world. The 2012 tour will begin at the end of May. Tops in Blue will be performing at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City, S.D., in July. For a complete schedule of Tops in Blue performances, visit www.topsinblue.com.