Whiteman Airman selected for Tops in Blue

Published Feb. 16, 2012
By Heidi Hunt

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

The Air Force Global Strike Command Airman submitted his audition tape Nov. 14, 2011, after his supervisor, Master Sgt. Thomas Scheving, 509th OSS radar approach control assistant chief controller, encouraged him to try out after hearing him play bass.

"The senior NCOs were conducting a random dorm inspection and we were admiring Airman Willis' 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," Scheving said. "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 kept me from becoming stagnant as a musician."

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

Willis' 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 in two National Football League stadiums, 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 will depart Whiteman AFB March 15 to begin trainning with his new unit. He said he also looks forward to becoming a better bass player and seeing the world. The yearlong tour will take him to more than 20 countries in more than 120 shows.

For a schedule of Tops in Blue performances visit topsinblue.com, follow Tops in Blue at twitter.com/aftopsinblue, the Facebook fan page at facebook.com/topsinblue or read thier blog entries attib.dodlive.mil.