Whiteman Airman selected for Tops in Blue

  • Published
  • By Heidi Hunt
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Senior Airman Kyle Willis, 509th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller journeyman, was selected Jan. 30, to tour with the Air Force's premier entertainment showcase, Tops in Blues.

The Air Force Global Strike Command base Airman submitted his audition tape Nov. 14, 2011 after his supervisor, Master Sgt. Thomas Scheving, 509th OSS Radar Approach Control assistant chief controller, heard him play bass and encouraged him to try out.

"The senior NCOs in charge were conducting a random dorm inspection and we were admiring Senior Airman Willis's homemade base guitars so I asked him to play," said Scheving. "Willis played an amazing blend of funk, rock and blues and our jaws dropped. The next day I urged him to try out."

Until then Willis said he hadn't even thought about trying out.

"I've been playing bass at the spirit chapel since I arrived here and playing with the group has kept me inspired to improve as a bassist," Willis said. "Being surrounded by great musicians at the chapel has kept me from becoming stagnant as a musician."

His family, friends and coworkers have always been supportive of him bass playing and he said is looking forward to travelling the world as an ambassador, representing the Air Force, Whiteman AFB and his career field.

"I am excited about the yearlong tour," said Willis.

Willis's music style has drawn experience from almost every genre of music including funk, rock, Latin and swing.

He's also been fortunate enough to have stage experience playing places such as two National Football League stadiums with a variety of groups, bars, small town festivals and the Alamo.

The new recruit hopes that being an Air Force performer will lead to future endeavors and open the door to today's music industry.

"I will see where it takes me," he said.

He also hopes audiences will appreciate his seasoned bass playing enthusiasm.

"I'm big into classic rock and old school funk," he said. "Who knows, maybe I could bring it back."

Willis is scheduled to depart Whiteman AFB March 15 to train with his new unit and said it is an excellent opportunity to get to know his fellow Airmen from across the world.

He said he also looks forward to becoming a better bass player and seeing the world and is scheduled to travel to more than 20 countries and perform more than 120 shows this year.

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