Musical passion opens door to ‘Top’ Published Jan. 26, 2006 By 1st Lt. Glory Smith Black Hills Bandit Staff ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, SD -- A combination of the right skills, day-to-day dedication on the job, and opportunity has opened the door for one Ellsworth Airman to live out his passion for music as the lead audio engineer on the 2006 Tops in Blue team. “I feel that being a part of Tops in Blue is such an honor, since I know that it’s competitive, and I feel very lucky to have been chosen,” said Airman 1st Class Johnathan Morgan, 34th Bomb Squadron environmental systems specialist, who departs Jan. 31 for his one-year permissive temporary duty assignment around the world as part of the team. Airman Morgan, a native of Fort Washington, Md., developed a passion for music while “mixing” at his home church, The Scripture Cathedral, during services, live concerts and plays, and as a disc jockey for nearly seven years. “There is a special feeling you get when you see the audience is enjoying the mix you’re creating from the performance, with the highest fidelity and coherence possible,” he said, further explaining he enjoys taking people to “another level” during the show. Airman Morgan said one of the best places to mix is in the Air Force, and he’s excited to join other Airmen in not only exercising musical talent but also in reminding people about the greatness of the Air Force. “The shows they put on make people remember and feel the U.S. Air Force really does great things,” he said, “and it shows our American pride for this great country.” His parents, whose other son serves in the Air Force working with information technology, share his excitement about the Tops in Blue opportunity. “I’m just so happy that he was selected,” said his mom, Mrs. Patricia Morgan. “It was a blessing ... I just thank God that he was picked to go.” Since Airman Morgan was a baby, he’s been buying books and reading up on sound engineering, she said. “That’s his dream from a baby to now,” said Mrs. Morgan. “He’s so energetic and just loves doing it. “When you love to do something,” she said, “you do it to your best.” Airman Morgan said he continues to do a lot of self learning about audio mixing by studying sound engineers and their paths to success, as well as studying equipment and technology. During the tour, while he looks forward to making some great friends, he said he really hopes to learn a lot from the others. He doesn’t let his passion for music take him away from his primary Air Force job, though, as his peers, supervisor and chain of command attest to his passion working on the B-1, too. “Airman Morgan is very professional and dedicated,” said Tech. Sgt. Christopher Rendon, who supervises Airman Morgan. “He goes above and beyond anything he is asked to perform without complaining. “He has very high standards and is a top-notch Airman,” he said, explaining he helped Airman Morgan through the process and paperwork to receive approval from his commander. With the approval of his chain of command, Airman Morgan was able to apply for the team, even though it was past the deadline. His skills, experience and knowledge persuaded the Tops in Blue directors to give him an important role on the 35-member team. “We felt he had the qualities to make our technical staff stronger,” said Jeri White, Tops in Blue production director. As part of the team, Airman Morgan will work with a state-of-the-art sound system. This training could help him later in the Air Force, if he chooses to stay in and perhaps cross-train into communications, said Ms. White. It could also help him if he chooses to pursue his passion in the music industry, which he said he’s considering. When the 2006 Tops in Blue team is trained and ready to go, it will premier at Lackland Air Force Base, Tx., April 1 and present its final show between 140 and 150 performances later around Jan. 31, 2007. As part of this “elite” team, Airman Morgan will not only entertain other Airmen, but he’ll also perform for other U.S. and foreign servicemembers at various military installations in the United States and abroad, and at deployed locations, as well as for civilian audiences in communities near many of the military locations. The tour does not just entail performing and having fun, though, as Airmen Morgan and the team will have their work cut out for them. “It’s not just a year of singing and dancing around the world,” said Ms. White. After the team’s two months of training at Lackland AFB, it will follow a rigorous 10-month schedule of performances during which members will not be allowed any leave, with the schedule including a day off just once every seven to 10 days. “Our show is our mission,” said Ms. White. “If it’s not up to par, we do whatever it takes (to get it there). Just like any other job in the Air Force, the mission comes first.” Team members also wear many “hats” other than performer or technician. They work and function in flights, with different members on teams for the wardrobes, lighting, and other crews, as well as logistics like messing, lodging, etc. They also serve as their own roadies, setting up and tearing down 50,000 pounds of equipment for each performance. “It’s a big commitment,” she said. But Airman Morgan is up for the challenge, motivated by his passion for music and sense of honor in the mission. He said that Tops in Blue “makes people never forget through song our will to fight for this country’s freedom.”